Tanáiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed his legal team has contacted gardaí seeking an update on their investigation of his leaking of a confidential GP report.
Mr Varadkar said this is “normal” and “entirely provided for,” when asked if it was appropriate.
Ministers and the Taoiseach have faced questioning by the media recently on whether it would be appropriate for Mr Varadkar to become Taoiseach in December if he is still under garda investigation.
Co-leader of the Social Democrats Roisin Shortall has suggested this would be a problem if the investigation is not over by then.
It was reported in recent days that solicitors representing Mr Varadkar have made contact with gardaí to enquire about the status of the investigation.
When asked on Monday if it was appropriate for his legal representatives to put pressure on Gardaí about the probe, the Fine Gael leader said it was “no question of pressure.”
He told reporters at Government Buildings: “It’s seeking a progress report or update, and that’s entirely normal, and entirely provided for.
“It’s no question of pressure.”
Mr Varadkar has said repeatedly that his legal advice is that he committed no offence but has apologised for his “errors of judgement.”
Last year, gardaí confirmed an investigation was underway into the circumstances surrounding the passing of a proposed new GP contract to a friend of the Tánaiste over two years ago.
It contained details of the deal the Government had provisionally agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation.
The Tanáiste was interviewed in April last year but has not been contacted since.
Mr Varadkar had sent the document to the head of a rival GP group, the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP).
The investigation into the leaking of the document is being led by specialist officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NCBI).
Fine Gael sources have said Mr Varadkar is “eager” to put the matter behind him given he will be Taoiseach again when he takes over from Micheál Martin in December.
One Fine Gael source said: “It’s a sore subject for him because the investigation is dragging out a bit and we all thought it would be over by now.
“Of course it was damaging at the time for him too.
“He’s probably conscious too that a lot of his colleagues are being asked about it again.”
When asked recently if he can take over as Taoiseach as planned if the garda investigation is ongoing at the time, Mr Varadkar said hasn’t thought about becoming Taoiseach again and is focusing on his current brief.
Speaking to RTÉ, he said: “To be frank, that’s not my focus at the moment.
“That’s almost a year away and I’ve a job to do as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; protecting businesses, creating jobs, saving jobs, making sure that Ireland is increasing its share of trade around the world.
“And I have my commitments as leader of Fine Gael and TD for Dublin West and that’s my focus at the moment.
“I’m not thinking about a months’ time at all at the moment.”
