There was more detail. There was more context. But there was no smoking gun.
Instead there were diametrically opposing views on the same series of events.
One of the Tánaiste's core objectives was to explain his motivation for sharing / leaking a confidential document.
In a chamber with limited attendance numbers due to Covid-19, but with many additional deputies standing in the shadows, Leo Varadkar projected himself as someone acting in the public interest.
He said he was a trained GP, from a medical family, who values care in the community and wanted to get a new GP contract over the line.
This, he maintained, was why he used the influence of the Taoiseach's office to help get it over the line.
Mr Varadkar said he had taken an active and personal interest in the negotiations and kept in contact on progress.
So when the deal was signed-off with the Irish Medical Organisation, and later passed by Cabinet, he gave a copy of the agreement to the National Association of General Practitioners to secure their support too.
He argues all the salient information was in the public domain and he wanted a good deal to be universally accepted, as not all GPs were represented by the IMO.
He argued that the only reason that Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail received the document was because he was the head of the NAGP - not because he was a friend.
He said no advantage had been conveyed to the NAGP, instead the government was honouring a political commitment to keep the NAGP up to date.
Regarding messages published in the Village magazine by Dr O Tuathail claiming Mr Varadkar "always delivers", the Tánaiste said some people claim they are closer to you than they really are. He said: I never convey special advantage.
Then Opposition parties got the chance to enter the fray - the question and answer session format delivered for once.
Mr Varadkar's apology, expression of regret and clarification that it was a once-off event is probably enough to retain the support of his Coalition partners.
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty elicited from the Tánaiste that he had requested the document from the Department of Health, photocopied it and sent it onto Dr O Tuathail without referring to the department, the minister or the IMO.
Mr Varadkar told Deputy Doherty that Dr O Tuathail had requested the document from him and he agreed.
Sinn Féin's Finance Spokesman said there had been no regular contact between the Department of Health and the NAGP - despite Fine Gael ministers claiming recently that was the case.
Deputy Doherty also asked about a series of new messages, which were reproduced just before the debate began, and involved Dr O Tuathail.
Mr Varadkar said he couldn't answer for the actions or comments of others and that avenue of inquiry was effectively closed down.
Deputy Doherty said his conclusion was this was evidence of an old boys club, golden circles and favours for friends.
The debate continued.
Labour's Aodhán Ó Ríordáin contended there was a million and one holes in the Tánaiste's story.
He asked if it was the case the NAGP was falling apart, and whether Mr Varadkar was not aware there were all sorts of corporate governance issues around it.
Responding, Leo Varadkar said he provided the document to the NAGP because there was a government commitment to engage with them.
He said it was not shared widely among the NAGP membership and that it wasn't put out in the public domain.
The Social Democrats Catherine Murphy asserted that the document was clearly confidential, not for circulation, and negotiations hadn't concluded when the Tánaiste sent it to the NAGP president.
Leo Varadkar replied that, in hindsight, that he would have done it through official channels if he was doing it again.
RISE TD Paul Murphy asked Mr Varadkar if he would sue the magazine over the article.
Leo Varadkar said the magazine appeared to be wanting him to do so, however he had been told that the publication is largely self funded, does not have a legal team and suing them would be like suing someone on Twitter.
At the end of the debate, the sum result is that the Opposition parties were not convinced by what the Tánaiste had to say in any shape or form.
However, Mr Varadkar's apology, expression of regret and clarification that it was a once-off event is probably enough to retain the support of his Coalition partners.
