The following is the statement issued by Mr Paddy Duffy:
I have decided to resign tonight as special adviser to the Taoiseach.
I wish to state categorically that I never had any involvement whatsoever in anything to do with NTL's bid to purchase Cablelink. I was never approached by anybody, nor did I speak to anybody, make representations, overtly or implicitly, to anybody at any time.
In all of these matters Dillon Consultants Ltd acted with the highest integrity and probity, as did myself.
It was my intention to finish out this year in my former employment as a special adviser and then go into business in public affairs with Dillon Consultants Ltd and with other companies. Originally, I intended leaving in December 1998, and came to an agreement with Dillon Consultants Ltd, only to change my mind and decide not to leave at that juncture.
My listing as non-executive director came about as a result of my discussions at that time. It was in this context that I, together with two other new directors, were to be appointed to the board, and documentation was prepared accordingly, which was signed by all of the intended new directors. I reconsidered and changed my mind. The terms being negotiated were that I would become a partner in the firm, which involved joining the board of directors and being allocated a 5 per cent shareholding. Having changed my mind, I returned the shares.
Through a series of misunderstandings on my own part, I was still registered as a non-executive director. My meetings with APCO Europe, a company of the highest international quality, were personal and involved discussions about my future career. At no stage did I discuss with APCO details of any of their clients.
When I briefed the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Enterprise on queries that were raised, I informed them that I had no involvement whatsoever in NTL's application and had no association with Dillon Consultants Ltd, as I had made no decision as to my future. I genuinely believed that I was not a director, or listed as a director, as I had made my decision not to join. I believed that my previous discussions did not materially influence me in any way in the performance of my employment. In retrospect, I can see that my approach was mistaken in a number of important respects.
I should have resigned before becoming a non-executive director of Dillons.
I should have confirmed that my name was not listed as being a non-executive director before completing my Jan 99 return to the Public Offices Commission.
I should have informed the Taoiseach and Minister Mary O'Rourke of the full facts of my contacts with Dillons.
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Enterprise acted wholly on my statement and are in no way implicated with any confusion which has arisen. For these reasons - despite the fact that I at all times acted in good faith and in particular did not have any input into the Cablelink sale, directly or indirectly - I believe my continued presence on the Taoiseach's staff might create a distraction which would not contribute to his work. Since for more than two decades I have given the Taoiseach my total commitment, I could not now do other than offer him my resignation.
June 4th, 1999