Department denies Cullen was rushed to hospital

DEPARTMENT officials last night denied Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who is the subject of two inquiries into the appointment of PR adviser Monica Leech, was rushed to hospital earlier this week.

However, reliable sources close to Mr Cullen said he had attended Waterford’s Ardkeen Hospital on Monday for a routine assessment in advance of a minor operation scheduled for the new year.

Although several newspapers speculated that the hospital visit may have been stress-related, Department officials rejected the suggestion outright saying the visit had been planned for some time and was not a result of extra pressure due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Monica Leech’s appointment.

Mr Cullen has always maintained he did nothing wrong in relation to the appointment of Ms Leech who earns €800 a day plus VAT for her part-time role as media consultant to the Department of the Environment.

Since the appointment in July 2002, Ms Leech has earned €310,000. However, serious questions have since been raised over the process followed by Mr Cullen in appointing Ms Leech who was initially chosen quickly without a tendering process.

In a subsequent tendering competition, Ms Leech retained the job despite an offering of a higher price by another bidder.

The political future of Mr Cullen will depend on whether two probes of the affair - both of which he has welcomed - clear him of any wrongdoing.

In addition to an inquiry being carried out by the Standards in Public Office Commission, former Revenue Commissioner head Dermot Quigley has been asked to report within a month on the awarding of the contract to Ms Leech.

Under its terms of reference, which were drawn up by the Taoiseach, the Quigley inquiry will look into the arrangements entered into for the hiring of Ms Leech since 1997 and decide whether normal practices and procedures were followed. The inquiry will also, if deemed appropriate, make recommendations in relation to any changes in public procurement practices which may be considered necessary.