Minister defends appointing €1,200 a day Leech

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche yesterday staunchly defended the appointment of Monica Leech as a €1,200 a day PR adviser to his predecessor, Martin Cullen.

Mr Roche confirmed the public relations company, Drury Communications, was paid over €380,000 for work on the National Spatial Strategy, although Ms Leech was also involved in that project.

Fine Gael environment spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said the €303,000 paid to Monica Leech Communications could have been used to hire six advisers.