Cullen appointed Leech despite using top PR firm for two years

FORMER Environment Minister Martin Cullen brought in his €1,200-a-day PR adviser, Monica Leech, despite the department already employing one of the country's biggest PR companies to work on a major project.

Drury Communications was paid over €200,000 by the department for work on the communications campaign on the National Spatial Strategy from 2000 to 2002.

Yet the minister cited the National Spatial Strategy as the immediate reason to urgently employ Monica Leech Communications after his appointment, without the contract going to full tender, and made no mention of Drury's existing presence.