Taoiseach ‘entitled’ to give ministers privacy warning

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen would have been “quite entitled” to warn his ministers about the need for cabinet confidentiality, a Government spokesman has said.

It was reported this weekend Mr Cowen had issued a stern privacy warning at the new cabinet’s first meeting last Wednesday night, stressing the need for matters discussed at such meetings to be kept confidential.

Mr Cowen was claimed to have told ministers there would be “serious consequences” for any cabinet member who leaked sensitive or damaging information.