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

At the outset it is important to state that the report document was not leaked. None of the recommendations appeared in the press, nor did any of the findings. What appeared in the press in advance was one aspect of the report, which was that it was Dr. Scally's opinion that a commission of inquiry was not warranted. None of the recommendations or findings was leaked, only the aspect concerning Dr. Scally's opinion regarding a commission of investigation. Perhaps one could say that one line from the entire report was leaked to the press in advance.

I note Deputy Martin's allegations. He regularly makes allegations in the House without any evidence to support them. He certainly has a penchant for innuendo and conspiracy theories. The report would have been available to more than the Department of Health and the Office of the Taoiseach. It would have been available to Dr. Scally, his team and many of the advisers who assisted him in putting the report together. Deputy Martin's presumption that only somebody in the Government, a civil servant or a politician had access to the report is not the case. Of course, it could have been leaked by somebody who did not have the report at all because all that was leaked was one aspect of it - the fact that it was Dr. Scally's opinion that a commission of inquiry was not required. It could have been done on a verbal basis. As is always the case, unless there is a paper or documentary trail of some nature it is difficult to identify the culprit. Certainly, if the person is identified and if he or she is a civil servant, politician or adviser, the person will be disciplined. If the person is not, that does not fall to me.

The only people who know are the journalists involved. They have been asked for their co-operation. This should not be treated as a normal story and both journalists who know have been asked to co-operate out of respect to the women and families who were upset by this. The only other person who knows is the person who leaked the information.

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