Members of the Seanad are investors in some of the State's biggest companies, according to the latest register of interests.
After the controversy surrounding shares held by the Green Party TD, Mr Ciaran Cuffe, the latest Seanad register of interests shows that senators hold shares in a wide variety of public and private companies.
However, the value of the shareholdings was not disclosed in a 2002 register of interests lodged last Friday evening in the Oireachtas library.
The businessman Senator Feargal Quinn said in his filing that he held shares in the investment holding company, Tokad, and its subsidiaries, which is the ultimate owner of the interests of Mr Quinn's Superquinn chain. The National University of Ireland senator is a also a director of several companies linked to the chain.
The Sunday Independent business editor, Senator Shane Ross, who first reported the story about Mr Cuffe's shares, said in his filing that he held shares in Eircom and Vodafone.
The Trinity College Dublin senator also holds shares in Arcon, the mining company whose biggest shareholder is Sir Anthony O'Reilly. Mr Ross does not hold shares in Independent News & Media, which is chaired by Sir Anthony. Mr Ross also holds shares in Scottish Value Trust, of Edinburgh, a fund of which he is deputy chairman. He chairs other investment funds, based in Dublin, Edinburgh and London, and is a director of funds based in Dublin and the Cayman Islands.
The register shows that Senator Maurice Hayes, a director of Independent News & Media, holds no shares in any group. Senator Hayes is nominee of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Senator Joe O'Toole, the senior trade unionist, holds shares in AIB, the financial group IFG, Kerry Co-op and in the London-based bank Lloyds TSB. The National University of Ireland senator is an investor in a Davy Stockbrokers bond and has money in a New Ireland Co unit trust.
Senator David Norris, of TCD, said he held shares in AIB and in Foreign and Colonial Euro Trust, an investment fund.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, of Fianna Fáil, said he had shares in funds managed by Canada Life and Irish Life.
The Fianna Fáil senator, Mr Paschal Mooney, said he had shares in the CGNU insurance company. He is a director of four music publishing companies.
His party colleague, Senator John Hanifan, has shares in First Active.
Senator Geraldine Feeney, also of Fianna Fáil, invests in a Hibernian Insurance bond. Senator Eddie Bohan of Fianna Fáil has shares in AIB, the insurance group AVIVA and in the oil exploration group Bula.
Senator Don Lydon of Fianna Fáil said he held shares in the First Active Building Society, in the CGNU insurance company, in Eircom, and in Conroy Diamonds and Gold.
Mr Terry Leyden, the Fianna Fáil senator, said he held shares in Irish Permanent and in Vodafone. His party colleague, Senator Michael Kitt, has shares in Vodafone and in Irish Life & Permanent. Senator Brendan Kenneally, also of Fianna Fáil, has shares in the fruit importers Fyffes.
Senator Martin Mansergh of Fianna Fáil said he owned half of his family's 165-acre farm at Friarsland, Co Tipperary. Senator Jim Walsh, of Fianna Fáil, said he had shares in a number of property, shipping and hotel interests, and in Arcon, Providence Resources, AIB, Eircom, Vodafone, Conroy Diamonds and Gold and in Riverdeep, the technology company.
Senator John Dardis of the PDs said he had shares in Bank of Ireland, Cement Roadstone Holdings, Shell, the Guinness-maker Diageo and the drug group Glaxo Smith Kline. He invests in a CGNU bond.
The Fine Gael senator, Mr Brian Hayes, said he had shares in a Bank of Ireland Asset Management fund and in a New Ireland fund. His party colleague, Senator Paul Coghlan, has shares in Kerry Group, Radio Kerry, Irish Life & Permanent, Bank of Ireland, AIB, First Active, Cement Roadstone Holdings and in the food group Greencore.
Mr Paddy Burke, also of Fine Gael, has shares in AIB and in the Bank of Ireland. The Fine Gael senator, Mr Paul Bradford, invests in AIB bonds and in Canada Life bonds. Senator Mary Henry is a director of JG McEntagart Ltd.