Cullen exonerated in PR contracts case
The Government-commissioned report into the awarding of lucrative PR contracts to Monica Leech has exonerated Minister for Transport Martin Cullen of any wrongdoing in relation to the deals.
The 45-page report drawn up by former Revenue chairman Dermot Quigley found that no procedures or regulations were breached in relation to the contracts and there was no evidence that Mr Cullen acted improperly.
It also said there was nothing improper about the €650-a-day pay rate offered to Ms Leech and the appointment of PR consultants on the recommendation of a minister was regular practice.
The report, however, recommends a tightening of procedures to prevent perceptions about favouritism.
Mr Quigley was asked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the awarding of PR contracts worth €300,000 to Monica Leech, who was hired to advise both the Office of Public Works and the Department of the Environment a number of years ago.
Ms Leech is a close personal friend and political associate of Mr Cullen, who was minister in the department at the time she secured the lucrative deals.
