The Taoiseach says he 'must have been briefed' on the state's policy towards settling claims in relation to families being overcharged for nursing homes, and said it is a "sound policy approach."
However, he doesn't know when or by whom.
He told the Dáil the Attorney General is compiling a report to be presented at next week's cabinet meeting.
This all relates to reports from the Irish Mail on Sunday which said successive Governments allegedly failed to provide payouts to families of people who were overcharged for nursing home stays from the 1970s until the late 2000s.
Dept of Health whistleblower Shane Corr alleged multiple Governments since 2011 have looked to hide the State's liability - which could be €12 billion.
Leo Varadkar insists the state's approach is being misrepresented:
" I must have been briefed on it.
"Ministers before me and after me were as were the junior ministers, but I can't tell you when or by whom in what depth or in what detail or whether was written or verbal, but hopefully I'll be able to find that out when documents are gone through in the Department of Health.
"The policy and strategy was derived and agreed prior to me becoming Minister for Health.
"I don't specifically know if I was asked to sign off on continuing it, but as I said, if I was, I would have, because this is a sound policy."
