Leo Varadkar has claimed he had no idea, “not even an inkling,” that we were heading for Level 5 before NPHET’s recommendation was leaked to a shocked nation on Sunday night.
His comments in the Dáil come as it was confirmed that Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has had the agenda cleared in the Dáil tonight to give him the forum for a special statement.
He will be aiming to draw a line in the sand on the mini-controversy that has boiled over concerning when the Government knew about the proposed Level 5 move that never came to pass.
Ireland is now on Level 3 with NPHET meeting again this afternoon.
The squabble dominated Leaders’ Questions this afternoon with both Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty and the Social Democrats’ Catherine Murphy taking on the Tánaiste over it.
Mr Varadkar said: “To clarify, and to make very clear, I was informed on Saturday, as was the Taoiseach and the leader of the Green Party, that a meeting of NPHET was called for Sunday.
“There was no suggestion, not even an inkling that Level 5 was being contemplated.
“Had we known that we would have sought an urgent briefing that night and that’s what could have happened, and would have happened in my view.
“The first indication I got that Level 5 was being considered was on Sunday evening after the NPHET meeting had taken place and I received in writing at 8:30 setting out the recommendations and the reasons for it.”
Mr Varadkar added that he has a great relationship with Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
He said: “I didn’t say a bad word about him, he’s someone I respect immensely.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader, Alan Kelly, has called into question “the competence” of Minister Donnelly in his handling of Covid.
