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During a notably lengthy press conference State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble today answered comprehensive questions all around the issue of the appropriateness of Ministers involving themselves in departmental appointment matters through the use of name dropping at ministerial-official meetings.

Ian Rennie's report into the rather turgid matter found that the Ministers involved - David Parker and Trevor Mallard - had not acted inappropriately. He did however criticise the Ministry for the Environment's handling of Labour Party member and "right-hand-woman" to David Parker(so-called by a ministerial aid) Claire Curran's employment.

The State Services Commission report does not express a view on the conduct of Beehive staff involved in the matter, or that of other management at MfE which Dr Prebble said had a very good team of senior managers.

Also notable in the findings is the fact that MfE Chief Executive Hugh Logan's resignation today has no connection at all to the Claire Curran report according to Dr Prebble.

Asked whether there might inevitably be a perception that Mr Logan was taking a fall for his ministerial masters Dr Prebble said that perceptions created by media were not something he could comment on.

• Scoop Video: Video on Demand of the press conference held this afternoon at the State Services Commission to announce the results of the Ian Rennie report into the Claire Curran communications at MfE [Ministry for the Environment] employment affair.

• Scoop Images: More Images from today's Dr Mark Prebble press conference by Kevin List. The following are three emails from the Minister's office concerning Claire Curran which are not evidence of ministerial interference according to the Inquiry.

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• Scoop Audio: Audio on Demand of SSC Commissioner Dr Mark Prebble's Press Conference (Warning!- It is rather long.)

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