The Standards in Public Office Commission has decided not to investigate the awarding of contracts by Minister Martin Cullen to PR consultant Monica Leech.
In a statement released this evening, the ethics watchdog said the evidence before it did not establish a prima facie case which would have warranted an investigation within the terms of the relevant legislation.
Ms Leech first worked for Mr Cullen when he was Minister for State at the Office of Public Works.
When he became Environment Minister in 2002, Ms Leech secured a contract as external public relations consultant on a single tender basis.
Ms Leech then held on to the job when it was opened up to competing bids. She was paid €300,000.
An investigation by the former Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Dermot Quigley, found no evidence of any impropriety on the minister's part.
Mr Cullen had argued that Mr Quigley’s 45-page report exonerated him.
Yet the report did raise concerns about how the contracts were advertised and the monitoring of the work, finding this could have given rise to a perception of impropriety.
Now, however, the Standards in Public Office Commission has decided there is no grounds for a full inquiry.
Cullen welcomes announcement
In a statement issued tonight, Mr Cullen said: 'I note this evening's announcement that the Standards in Public Office Commission, having considered the matter, has found that there are no grounds for an investigation.
'Taken together with the Quigley inquiry, all matters relating to this issue have been comprehensively examined by independent persons.
'I look forward to continuing to work hard in my role as Minister for Transport and to delivering on the many challenging and exciting policy initiatives under my responsibility.'
Opposition not letting go
The Green Party has said it always believed the commission's remit was too narrow to deal with the issues.
It added that the Quigley report proved there were no proper or adequate standards put in place by the coalition.
Labour's Eamon Gilmore said the voting public still had to rule on the coalition's standards and, in most other countries, Mr Cullen would not have lasted this long considering the electronic voting debacle.
Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell said she hoped Mr Cullen would learn from what she called 'this inglorious episode' and realise that the manipulation and public opinion is no substitute for 'real endeavour'.
