THE first register of the financial interests of TDs reveals that almost half of the State's 166 TDs live exclusively off their Dail salaries. And it shows a disparity of property and business interests between Fine Gael and its Labour and Democratic Left government colleagues.
The register, compiled under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 to prevent conflicts of interest in future, discloses that Mr Bruton owns two land holdings in Co Meath, which he is letting, with a long term development potential of £1 million.
But there are few, if any, millionaires in the Dail.
A total of 72 TDs have declared they live exclusively on their basic Dail salary of £33,354 a year. Seventeen TDs in Fianna Fail, excluding Mr Gerry Collins MEP, and Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher MEP, 18 TDs in Fine Gael, 23 TDs in the Labour Party, all six TDs in Democratic Left, five TDs in the Progressive Democrats, the one Green Party TD and two Independents have no other occupational income.
The register, to be published in Iris Oifigiul today, required members of the Oireachtas to complete a statement of interests covering occupational income, share holdings over £10,000 directorships interests in land in excess of £10,000 gifts received worth more than £500 property and services worth more than £500 travel facilities provided outside the State exceeding £500 remuneration positions held and contracts with a value over £5,000.
In the Government, the Taoiseach and his brother, Mr Richard Bruton, Mr Sean Barrett, Mr Michael Lowry and Mr Michael Noonan have declarations to make in one or more of the nine categories in the register.
The six Labour Ministers and the DL Minister and Minister of State at the Cabinet table, on the other hand, have no occupational income, shares, directorships or lands listed.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, lives on his ministerial salary of £67,712, according to the register, while his wife, Ms Deirdre Yates, is a licensed bookmaker with six betting offices. Mr Yates also "operates the use" of 172 acres owned by his mother, Ms Mary Yates.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, and a significant number of his front bench, also live exclusively on their Dail salaries augmented, in some cases, by their ministerial pensions.
Mr Ray Burke has listed an occupational income and non executive directorship in Willis Corroon Ireland Ltd, incorporated insurance brokers. This company has contracts with a number of public bodies, including UCD, CIE and an Bord Gais.
Mr Seamus Brennan has rental income from a house at Merrion Grove, Booterstown, Co Dublin.
Mr Sean Haughey has a quarter share as tenant in common of 220 acres in Kinsealy, Co Dublin.
Mr Liam Lawlor has occupational income as a management consultant and 23 acres of land at Newcastle Road, Lucan, which was disposed of at public auction last July.
Mr John Ellis is a non-executive director of Indus Bank Ltd, in Karachi, Pakistan, with no remuneration.
Mr Des O'Malley, former leader of the PDs, had shares in companies, including Cable & Wireless Plc, Grand Metropolitan Hotels, Shell Transport and Trading Plc, but all of his shares and stock were disposed of since January 31st 1996.
Under travel facilities, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, has declared that about £700 was provided for meals and accommodation on an overnight stay in Chateau Elan, Georgia, the US, last Halloween.
Mr Jim Mitchell, with an occupational income as a consultancy partner in Dargle and Dodder, consultants, discloses that this partnership is, among other things, an ongoing adviser to the Communicorps Group Ltd, "which holds a number of State licences in the communications area, an area in which I have knowledge and expertise as a former Minister for Communications".
The longest entry in the register comes from former Fine Gael Minister, Mr Hugh Coveney. He has extensive occupational income, shares, directorships, property and service and contracts.
His occupational income derives from a family farm, rental income from retail shop unit, 70 per cent of rental income from an advance factory unit in Athlone, and rental income from one floor of a multi storey car park in Cork. The family farm of 350 acres is jointly owned with his wife.
