Dept responds to leaked audio controversy

No official of the Department of Health had given consent to be recorded

The Department of Health is aware of alleged recordings of internal meetings which took place between 2020 and 2022 being circulated.

In a statement issued this morning, they acknowledge also that notes claiming to represent comments made by officials also appear to have been circulated.

They statement goes on to state that no official of the Department of Health had given consent to be recorded while carrying out their duties as part of the deliberative process.

Publishing details of meetings between Government officials in the ordinary course of their work, which were recorded without the consent or knowledge of participants, the department says "is a direct violation of individual privacy".

"Work by the Department and its officials with the HSE, focused on improving the transparency around financial matters is clearly in the interest of the public.

"However, the Department strongly believes that quoting the casual comments of individuals will only serve to limit constructive debate and dialogue across the civil service and this is damaging to the public interest."

The department notes that currently no recordings on which any allegations are based have been made available to the Department and therefore they say it is "unclear" what discussions they refer to or if they "have been doctored" in any way. "This makes it difficult to validate or respond constructively.

"It is widely acknowledged that there are many legacy issues across the health service to be addressed. The Department of Health and the HSE work closely together to manage the health service and, through Sláintecare, implement the much-needed reform to deliver a better health service for the public. This working relationship, characterised by mutual respect, is professional and constructive."