Kelly made three draft statements

THE Travers report into the Health Department’s handling of nursing home charges was delayed because the secretary general only submitted his final statement on the day the report was due.

It emerged yesterday that Michael Kelly provided three separate draft statements to the inquiry before submitting his final version on March 1, the day John Travers was due to submit his report to the Tánaiste.

The final version was submitted at 10.06am on March 1. According to Mr Travers, it made it necessary for him to hold back the report he was to deliver to Mary Harney that day as it made him necessary to interview a number of people again. In the event, he delivered it three days later.