The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will not face prosecution following the investigation surrounding the disclosure of a confidential Government document to a friend over three years ago.
He previously told the Dáil that in April 2019 he gave a copy of an agreement between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation to Maitiú Ó Túathail, whom he described as a friend but "not a close friend".
Mr Varadkar was Taoiseach at the time and Mr Ó Túathail was president of a rival GP organisation, the National Association of General Practitioners.
In 2020, Mr Varadkar apologised for "errors of judgement", but said his legal advice was that he did not commit a criminal offence.
Detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation interviewed the Tánaiste as part of their inquiry.
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A comprehensive file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in April of this year.
It has taken the director three months to decide that no charges are to be brought against the Tánaiste or anyone else.
It said all relevant parties have been informed.
In a statement this evening, Mr Varadkar said: "I was informed this evening by my solicitor that the DPP has determined that I have no case to answer in relation to my disclosure of a document to the president of the NAGP in 2019.
"I have always maintained that the allegations made against me were false. I am pleased at the outcome of what was a very thorough investigation.
"I want to thank the Taoiseach, Minister Ryan, my Fine Gael party colleagues, my party, my staff, my partner and my family for their faith, trust and confidence in me during what was a difficult period for us all. I will issue a full statement in due course."
