Watchdog clears Cullen over Leech PR contracts

MARTIN CULLEN was in the clear last night as the State ethics watchdog decided against initiating a full inquiry into the appointment of his political associate Monica Leech as a PR consultant.

Following a meeting that lasted more than two hours, the Standards In Public Office Commission announced it did not establish a “prima facie case” to warrant an investigation.

The decision secures the embattled Transport Minister’s place in the Cabinet as he was also cleared of any wrongdoing by a separate independent investigation by former Revenue Commissioner Dermot Quigley.

The final cost of Ms Leech’s services, through a series of contracts, will be in the region of €400,000, including fees, expenses and VAT.

After deliberating for almost two months, SIPO informed Mr Cullen of its decision last night before issuing a four-paragraph statement.

“The evidence before the Standards Commission did not establish a prima facie case which would have warranted an investigation within the terms of the legislation in question. In the matter which was the subject of the preliminary inquiry, the grounds for possible investigation by the Standards Commission could not extend beyond the scope of the relevant legislation,” it stated.

Within minutes of the decision being made public, Mr Cullen said he looked forward to getting on with his role in Cabinet.

“Taken together with the Quigley inquiry, all matters relating to this issue have been comprehensively examined by independent persons.

“I look forward to continuing to work hard in my role as Minister for Transport and to delivering on the many challenging and exciting policy initiatives under my responsibility,” he said in a statement.

SIPO stated its preliminary inquiry focused on sections of two pieces of relevant legislation, the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995 and the Standards In Public Office Act, 1995.

The evidence examined by the commission included the report by Mr Quigley for the Government and the files from the Office of Public Works and the Department of the Environment, which were supplied on foot of orders of discovery by SIPO’s chairman.

The commission members also sought legal advice from a senior counsel.

Ms Leech’s term as PR consultant to the Department of the Environment ended last week and the position was then scrapped.

The Waterford-based PR consultant was employed on an almost continual basis by Government departments since November 2001.

While Mr Quigley found no evidence of wrongdoing on Minister Cullen’s part, his report said the suggestion of Ms Leech for appointment by him risked a “perception of impropriety”.

The Standards in Public Office Commission is chaired by High Court Judge Matthew Smith and the other members are Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, Clerk of the Dáil Kieran Coughlan, Clerk of the Seanad Deirdre Lane and former Labour Party Minister Liam Kavanagh.