The DPP has directed that no charges should be brought against the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.

It comes after a two-year Garda investigation into Mr Varadkar over the alleged leaking of a confidential doctor’s pay deal while he was Taoiseach in 2019.

Gardaí completed their investigation earlier this year and sent a case file to the DPP for a direction.

This evening, it was confirmed that the DPP has directed that no criminal charges should be brought against Mr Varadkar.

The Tánaiste has admitted sending the agreement to a rival doctor’s organisation – but insisted there was ‘nothing corrupt or illegal’ in what he did.

Confidential

Mr Varadkar has admitted sending a copy of a contract agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to the then-president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail, while he was Taoiseach in April 2019.

When the story broke in November 2020, Mr Varadkar apologised to the Dáil for his “errors of judgement” but insisted there was nothing corrupt in his actions.

Contract

He said he had not handed the NAGP any unfair commercial advantage and said he was working to get as much support for the deal among doctors as possible.

He told the Chamber he has “never been motivated by a desire for selfish financial gain or motivation, corrupt.”

He insisted he was “motivated by the best reasons, but there was nothing selfish or dishonest, let alone corrupt or illegal in what I did”.

The Garda investigation has led to a highly charged atmosphere in the Dáil at times, with opposition parties accusing the Tánaiste of corruption while in power.

Earlier this year Mr Varadkar told Newstalk he expected the investigation to be completed “long before now”.

The Tánaiste is expected to release a formal statement later this evening.