Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says he did not leak the information about NPHET asking for level five restrictions to be introduced.
The minister was questioned in the Dáil last night, after it emerged he had spoken to Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan before and after NPHET met last Sunday.
Minister Donnelly said the possibility of a level four recommendation was discussed with Dr Holohan on Sunday morning - and the minister informed Taoiseach Micheál Martin of that possibility.
However, the minister said the eventual level five recommendation came as a surprise to Government.
He told the Dáil: "Was it a surprise to me, the level five recommendation on Sunday evening? It was."
Minister Donnelly said he received a text message on Saturday from the Chief Medical Officer to inform of the NPHET meeting on Saturday.
He then requested a phone call from Dr Holohan early on Sunday morning, before NPHET met.
He explained: "We discussed the current situation, and the possibility of moving to level four.
"I conveyed my belief that it was important NPHET adhere to the parameters set out in the framework for each level. I contacted the Taoiseach afterwards.
"Around 7pm [on Sunday] I took part in a video call... that's when I was informed of the recommendation to move to level five."
Minister Donnelly said the Government's decision to move to level three instead of level five came for a number of reasons - including that they believed the conditions to the move to the highest level of restrictions haven't yet been met.
The level five recommendation was ultimately leaked to the media on Sunday evening.
Minister Donnelly insisted in the Dáil he "wasn't leaking anything", and was instead focusing on dealing with the situation that was unfolding.
