The following is the full text of the statement issued today by Minister of State Ivor Callely.
Following a number of meetings this afternoon, I would like to clarify issues in the media today. Firstly, I have not done wrong and I am very angry about this unsubstantiated innuendo that I was involved in the favouring of any public contract.
The tendering process is beyond reproach and to suggest that one member of a 38-member board could influence any such contract is not credible. Indeed the initial contract was awarded before my time as chair. Indeed I was a newly elected backbencher. I have today been in touch with my solicitor because I take very seriously any suggestion that I would interfere with the awarding of any public contract.
In 1992 I was refurbishing my home on St Lawrence's Road. As is often the case the whole project had dragged out and I was under pressure to move into the house with my family, I was let down by my painters and was seeking other painters at short notice to complete the work in order to be able to move in.
During a casual conversation with John Paul snr, who I was friendly with, I mentioned my predicament and he very kindly offered that he could send some painters around at short notice. I was happy to accept his offer as we were behind schedule. The painting materials had been purchased, chosen and paid for by my wife and myself. To the best of my recollection, two men were put on the job. It took them a number of days to complete the rooms and make the house habitable.
I had no idea who the men were who did the painting but assumed that they were employees of John Paul Construction. I anticipated a bill for the labour would follow. I have checked my records 13 years ago and I cannot locate a bill. With a massively busy schedule all of those years ago, regretfully I didn't follow it up and over time forgot about the matter. Given the amount of work done, I presume that the bill would have amounted to between £1,500 and £2,000.
In the light of this issue being brought to my attention, I have contacted the accounts department of John Paul Construction to inquire as to whether or not there is an outstanding account to settle with them. I hope to hear from them shortly.
I find the whole episode sinister in the extreme. I am particularly angry about the unsubstantiated innuendo that as a member of the Eastern Health Board I might have in any way favoured John Paul Construction in a public tender process. John Paul Construction had won a contract for the refurbishment of the Eastern Health Board headquarters at Dr Steevens's Hospital some time around 1988.
The contract was won by John Paul Construction through a public tendering process, administered by a project team comprising of Eastern Health Board and Department of Health officials. No politicians were involved in the adjudication process of the tender, which I am sure can be confirmed.
Given the seriousness of the innuendo, which is totally false, I have contacted my solicitors and asked them to review the matter.