Standards commission to decide on Cullen inquiry

The Standards in Public Office Commission is due to decide today whether to investigate the awarding of lucrative Government contracts to a close friend of Transport Minister Martin Cullen.

The contracts were awarded to Waterford consultant Monica Leech by the Office of Public Works and the Department of the Environment.

Mr Cullen was the minister in charge of the OPW and the department at the time of the awards, but an inquiry set up by the Taoiseach has already cleared him of any impropriety.

The inquiry by former Revenue Chairman Dermot Quigley found that there was nothing improper in the way the contracts were awarded without tender and on the recommendation of Mr Cullen.

However, Mr Quigley did recommend procedural changes to prevent future perceptions of favouritism.