The Government last night introduced new guidelines for Departments on hiring outside consultants, particularly in the area of public relations and communications.
The move comes after the Government had considered the recommendations made by the recent Quigley report on the controversy which arose over the awarding of lucrative public relations contracts to Ms Monica Leech, who is a political associate of the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen.
The guidelines will apply in the public relations or communications area "where there is a significant element of direct service to a minister or where a minister has suggested the name of a person or enterprise for a consultancy or contract".
Under them, in such circumstances the secretary general of the Department concerned will be required to inform the secretary general to the Government of the proposal.
"He will arrange for the Cabinet Secretariat in the Department of the Taoiseach to inquire about any aspect of the proposed procurement that it considers necessary.
"Arising from this, the secretary general to the Government will, if necessary, make recommendations to the Taoiseach as to whether any special conditions should be observed in the procurement process", the Department of the Taoiseach said in a statement last night.
The new guidelines would apply immediately, the statement added.
They will be incorporated into the cabinet handbook which sets out the appropriate behaviour for ministers.
The guidelines were recommended to the Government in the recent report produced by Mr Dermot Quigley, who is a former head of the Revenue Commissioners.
