Dáil probe into Cullen’s PR adviser deal

THE controversial awarding of an €11,000-a-month contract by Transport Minister Martin Cullen to his PR adviser, Monica Leech, is to be officially probed again next week.

Environment Minister Dick Roche will face a series of parliamentary questions from Fine Gael on his predecessor’s appointment of the company run by Mr Cullen’s election campaign worker as communications adviser to the Department of the Environment.

Separately, Mr Roche will be asked by the party about his plan to give the go-ahead to Swedish furniture giant Ikea to open its first store in Ireland by lifting the existing size limit on superstores.