From top: Tanaiste Leo Varadkar Leo Varadkar; Dr Matt Ó Tuathail; Village magazine
Friday.
Following Tanaiste Leo Varadakar’s Dail response to revelations in Village magazine of how he gave a contract negotiated between the Government and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to his friend, former National Association of General Practitioners’ president Dr Maitiú O Tuathail.
Mr Varadkar denied the level of contact with Dr O Tuathail suggested by Village. In one instance saying he was in Barcelona, Spain when the magazine claimed he had met Dr O Tuathail in Dublin.
Via Village:
“Dear Tánaiste,
You referred in the Dáil on 10 November to the impossibility of your having had ten encounters in 2019 with Dr Matt Ó Tuathail. You said many of the encounters referred to
were impossible.Can you please say how many, and which of them, you consider you have now shown – as opposed to just stated without evidence – did not happen. Can you kindly please give information that shows you were in Barcelona at a time that proves you could not have had any particular one of the ten alleged encounters with Dr Ó Tuathail.
You also pointedly told the Dáil you had not spoken to Dr Ó Tuathail in nine days, after you understandably spoke to him on three occasions after Village‘s story broke. Can you please state whether Matt Barrett spoke to Dr Ó Tuathail on your behalf or otherwise about the leak affair and/or its fallout in that nine-day period. Can you please say if you ever discussed Community Hospital Ireland with Dr Ó Tuathail?
Michael Smith
Editor, Village Magazine
In reply…
“The Tánaiste answered questions on these matters in two sittings and over five hours of Dáil debate. In relation to Community Health Ireland, Dr. O’Toole sent a brochure to the Tánaiste in November 2018 for information and informed him that it was being piloted in co-operation with the HSE. The Tánaiste did not take any further action on the matter.”
Statement from the Tánaiste’s office.
Anyone?
Tánaiste’s reply to questions from Village (Village)
Last week: Meanwhile, In The Dáil
Dr Ó Tuathail?
the doc at DENNIS O”BRIENS beacon,that doc,oh bit awkward in midst raising capital to expand.
“And while Michael Cullen declined to make any comment on the deal, the imminent acquisition by the Denis O’Brien-owned hospital of the Beacon Hotel will offer it scope, subject to planning permission, to grow its operations significantly.”
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/denis-o-brien-s-beacon-hospital-to-acquire-beacon-hotel-1.4407765
when did you stop beating your wife?
This is such a non story, and Village magazine is looking pathetic now. You don’t make allegations and then put the onus on the person you’re accusing to prove they’re not true. That’s not how good journalism works. Broadsheet’s support of this, like it’s support of Ivor Cummins, is gonna look in a year or so like it’s support of GO’D during the presidential election looks now.
It is not possible to buy a copy of Village mag in Ballydehob or Knocknagoshel. It doesn’t have nationwide cachet.
That letter is really badly written and so are the articles on Leo. Paddy and the lads should just have a session in Paddy’s mansion and finally give in to some very repressed desires. Leo has some taste, so no need to invite him along.
The Concannonbots are all over this article.