Department of Health using IT department to prevent recording of internal discussions 

Robert Watt, secretary-general at the Department of Health told PAC that 'our staff have been reminded of their obligations, we all have to be in a position to have private conversations, it’s very important to have that challenge function in any organisation'. File picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins 

The head of the Department of Health has said his IT department is now involved in preventing the “unacceptable” recording of internal discussions after details of private meetings were released to the media.

Robert Watt told the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday he thinks it is “unacceptable to record private conversations in any setting”, referring to the actions of departmental whistleblower Shane Corr in releasing transcripts of budget meetings in February of this year.