Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Doherty made two specific references to me during the debate and out of respect to him, and to the fact that the record of this House stands for evermore, I want to respond briefly to both. There is nothing wrong with having lunch or a coffee with anyone, but for the record I did not. On the date he referenced, 12 April, I was at an East Coast FM charity event right throughout my constituency and many hundreds of my constituents would have seen exactly where I was that day.

I want to clarify that for the record of the House. Second, on the message I received, I afforded someone the courtesy of a response to that message but I think it is very clear that I did not take further action as regards providing the contract. Third, as someone who was involved in the delivery of this GP contract, it would not have happened were it not for the leadership of the then Taoiseach and the work of the IMO.

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