Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For the record, what the SCU deals with is the provision of public information and campaigns. It does not deal with political matters such as the Brexit talks or responding to what happens on television or radio programmes. That is not its role as I am sure I have said many times.

As regards how I structure my Department, one of my special advisers, Ms Angela Flanagan, follows health matters. A specific part of her remit is keeping an eye on scoliosis services and keeping me informed on the issue. While it is absolutely the case that the RTÉ "Prime Time" programme had an impact and spurred further Government action, the provision of a theatre had been approved by me as Minister for Health long before that programme was aired. While I do acknowledge that the then Tánaiste, Deputy Joan Burton, took an interest in the issue and helped me to secure funding for the theatre from the person who is now her party leader and held the purse strings at the time, it is counterbalanced ten to 15 times over by the number of times that I had to fight, when Minister, with the Labour Party to defend the health and disability budget.

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