Roche diplomatic on Cullen’s Leech appointment

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche was asked yesterday if he would resign if he found himself in the same position as his predecessor Martin Cullen over the Monica Leech appointment.

The PR consultant’s contract with the Department of the Environment ended the previous day and the position has been scrapped.

Describing the communications strategy in which Ms Leech was involved as “successful”, Mr Roche said the report by former Revenue Commissioners chairman Dermot Quigley was excellent.

“I have made it clear from the outset my preference is to rely on the department’s press office and other departmental resources. Circumstances change over time,” he said.

But Fine Gael environment spokespersons Fergus O’Dowd and Padraic McCormack pressed Mr Roche on whether he agreed with Mr Cullen’s actions and if he would resign if he was in the same position.

Mr Roche said it was a hypothetical scenario.

“I will only resign if I do something that deserves resignation,” he said.

According to Mr McCormack, it was time Mr Cullen apologised to the public on behalf of the Government for subjecting them to this sorry business.

“The Quigley report states things must change and a perception of impropriety has been given,” he said.

Mr Roche said his department was a large, complex organisation dealing with 3,700 suppliers of a range of goods and services and that a relatively large number of officers are involved in procurement.

“Revised procedures are being put in place to strengthen the monitoring and control of procurement and intensive briefing and refresher training is being arranged for all staff involved in this activity.”