"I don't believe it's going to happen."
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said he does not believe charges will be brought against him in regards to the report he sent to GP Maitiú Ó Tuathail in 2019.
An article in Village Magazine alleged that Varadkar, then Taoiseach, passed on a confidential agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation to Ó Tuathail, who was the head of the National Association of General Practitioners.
While the Tánaiste has apologised for his actions - including in the Dáil which voted confidence in him - he has repeatedly stated he committed no offence.
The matter is currently being investigated by gardaí.
On
LMFM on Wednesday, when asked if he believed it would be in the national interest to step aside if the DPP directs that charges are brought against him, Varadkar replied: "I don't contemplate that happening".
When asked, hypothetically, if criminal charges were taken against any member of government if that person should step aside, the Tánaiste said: "I'm not contemplating that. I've been trying to avoid creating new stories about this issue.
"So, that's not something I'm considering. I don't believe it's going to happen.
"What I'm saying is it's not going to arise."
Asked whether he was saying that charges will not be taken against him. Varadkar responded: "That's correct".
Varadkar has offered to meet with gardaí and make a statement in regards to the incident.
