Department of Health boss pushes back on RTÉ autism dossier allegations

Newly appointed secretary-general at Department of Health Robert Watt entering Kildare House to report to the Oireachtas Health Committee today. H told the committee that he called the Director General of RTÉ on the day a programme aired which alleged his Department compiled dossiers on children with autism to "ensure she understood the gravity of the allegations". Photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

The Secretary General of the Department of Health says he called the Director General of RTÉ on the day a programme aired which alleged his Department compiled dossiers on children with autism to "ensure she understood the gravity of the allegations".

Robert Watt was before the Health Committee on Wednesday to discuss the allegations contained in a recent RTÉ Primetime programme.