Cullen report to be published tomorrow

A report into the awarding of contracts to PR consultant, Ms Monica Leech, by the Minister for Transport is to be published tomorrow…

A report into the awarding of contracts to PR consultant, Ms Monica Leech, by the Minister for Transport is to be published tomorrow, a Government spokesman has confirmed.

A copy of the report carried out by former Revenue chairman, Mr Dermot Quigley, into the investigation into Mr Cullen's role in the awarding of the contracts was given to the Taoiseach on Monday.

People named in the report have also been given the sections that relate to their involvement in the awarding of Department of the Environment and Office of Public Works contracts worth over €300,000 to Ms Leech since 2002.

The full report will be laid before the Oireachtas tomorrow after being given to leaders of the various political parties.

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Mr Ahern is understood to be preparing a statement to accompany the release of the report. He is expected to be questioned on the contents of the report during Leaders Questions in the Dáil this afternoon.

While Mr Cullen's future in Cabinet is still in the balance, sources within Leinster House say there is increasing expectation that he will survive. The report is said to exonerate him, despite recommending stricter procedures on the awarding of public contracts in the future.

However, he still faces an investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

Mr Cullen has denied any wrongdoing over awarding the contracts to Ms Leech, a close political associate of his from Waterford. It emerged last December he had awarded her a PR contract worth €800 per day for a three-day week after he was appointed to Cabinet in 2002.