I’m cleared completely of wrongdoing, says Cullen

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen last night said yesterday’s report into the hiring of Monica Leech had cleared him completely of any wrongdoing.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Cullen also criticised the way in which he said the allegations against him were exaggerated.

“Throughout this controversy there has been a consistent pattern of exaggeration and distortion. Each of the claims made is comprehensively rebutted by the facts as now published,” he said.

Describing Dermot Quigley’s report as comprehensive and very detailed, Mr Cullen said it was obvious that “all involved acted here with integrity and fairness”.

He said the report found:

*There was nothing improper in the awarding of the contracts.

*There was no infringement on the division of responsibilities between ministers and civil servants.

*The nature of the contracts were in line with normal practice.

*Work carried out by Monica Leech was regarded by civil servants to have been carried out to a high standard.

However, when repeatedly asked if he accepted that the manner of the appointment of Ms Leech could be perceived as untoward, Mr Cullen declined to respond directly to the question.

“There’s lessons for everybody in these and there are recommendations in the report itself and I think they’re very helpful. They’re certainly worth consideration. I think what’s important is that you always want to protect the public interest and make sure that process ... are clear and seen to be clear,” he said.

Mr Cullen also declined to accept that there would have been no need for the controversy had he acted differently.

“We are where we are. The report is there. I think it’s a very, very good report. I think it’s a very detailed report ... and I think that the facts are all set out in the report,” he said.

Questioned on the report’s finding that the work of Ms Leech had not been satisfactorily monitored, Mr Cullen said: “What’s clear in the report, from all her work in the various departments, that it was seen that her work was highly valued within the departments and I think that speaks for itself.”

Asked whether he would consider hiring Ms Leech again, Mr Cullen said she would remain as entitled as anyone else to tender for Government business.

He also hit out at what he called the excessive levels of intrusion into his private life that sections of the media had engaged in during the controversy.

“I’ve never used my personal life to promote myself either professionally or indeed politically. The only comment I would make on this is that certainly the level of intrusion into my private life in this instance was clearly excessive. But people can judge that for themselves,” he said.