Donohoe assured by Harris that De Buitléir report findings would be non-binding

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe requested, and received, repeated assurances from Health Minister Simon Harris that the recommendations of a key report into removing private care from Irish hospitals would be non-binding.

On at least three occasions prior to the publication of the De Buitléir report into the creation of a single-tier healthcare system, Minister Donohoe asked for confirmation that the findings of the report would not necessarily have to be implemented.