Letters

Robert Watt – questions and answers

Seeking further hearings

Sat Apr 22 2023 - 00:12

Sir, – Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt’s revelation at the Oireachtas committee meeting that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly’s laptop had been “hacked” in March 2022 when the Minister was in the US on a St Patrick’s Day trade mission is quite worrying (“Watt rejects ‘most’ of Holohan report findings and reveals laptop ‘hack’”, News, April 19th).

Mr Watt’s acknowledgment that the Department of Health was unable to communicate with the Minister “for a few days” is even more alarming.

What was the nature of the hack?

Were confidential documents corrupted or exfiltrated?

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Was it the Minister’s personal laptop or his official computer? Were the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and other Ministers who were also abroad at that time subject to similar attacks? Were other IT systems contaminated?

I assume there was an official report on this incident, including actions to minimise the likelihood of similar attacks in the future, which will be shared with the public. – Yours, etc,

Dr DECLAN DEASY,

Castlebellingham,

Co Louth.

Sir, – The Oireachtas finance committee may have been “more muddled” after Robert Watt’s evidence (News, April 20th ) but it seems they are gluttons for punishment as they are now seeking further hearings on the matter (News, April 21st).

While other players in the saga, including the Minister for Health may be brushing up on their recollections of events, Robert Watt is out the gap, as they say, and can look on proceedings from relative comfort. – Yours, etc,

TADHG McCARTHY,

Bray,

Co Wicklow.

Sir, – Would it be fair to say Mr Watt’s exchanges with the Dáil committee generated more heat than light? – Yours, etc,

RORY MacFLYNN,

Blackrock,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – May I go against the flow and commend Mr Watt on his brass neck?

More power to him. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL KEEGAN,

Booterstown,

Co Dublin.