Extensive investments in property, land and shares held by a minority of TDs are revealed in the Register of Interests of Members of Dáil Éireann for 2006, which was published yesterday.
The register is notable for the number of properties abroad.
Among the more prominent is Minister of State at the Department of Justice Frank Fahey, who declares full ownership or part-interest in properties in Galway City and Gort as well as Cos Clare, Dublin, Kildare, Limerick and Westmeath, 15 apartments in Brussels, three in Boston and a house and site at Villefranche in France as well as, "deposit paid and contract signed on property at Porto De Mos, Lagos and Mongadoha Lameira, Alcantarilha, Portugal".
Another politician with property holdings in diverse locations is Fine Gael TD for Cork North-West Gerard Murphy, who has a post office in Newmarket, Co Cork and, among other holdings, an "interest in studio, Poland" and "interests in apartments, Florida and Cannes: rental".
Other TDs have apartments in the UK, France or Cyprus, but these are mainly holiday homes or retirement nest-eggs. Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South-Central Seán Ardagh has two apartments and a town house in Dublin and a "quarter-share" in a Budapest flat which is not let at present.
Few TDs hold commercial directorships, an exception being former minister Michael Lowry who lists himself as a director of a refrigeration company and a "general consultancy" in Thurles, Co Tipperary, as well as a property firm in Bedfordshire, England.
In the category of "gifts", Taoiseach Bertie Ahern declares honorary memberships of golf clubs at Elm Park, Grange and Portmarnock but adds, "I do not receive any material benefit from these as I do not play golf". Mr Ahern's other entry for the gifts category is a piece of artwork received from "Madame Xiao, daughter of ex-Chinese Prime Minister on visit to Dublin" valued at €1,000, but he adds: "This piece has been retained by Government Secretariat." The Taoiseach's answer is "nil" in such categories as shares, directorships and land.
Golf club memberships are also listed as gifts received by Opposition leader Enda Kenny, who is an honorary member of the K Club and Ballinrobe and was a "captain's guest" at Mount Juliet. Simon Coveney and Marian Harkin, who are also MEPs, list free parking places at Dublin Airport. Fine Gael's Phil Hogan and Fianna Fáil's Jimmy Devins list invitations to the Ryder Cup. Also in this category, Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell declares a mediation course at Friary Law, Dublin 7, adding: "If I ever undertake work in the future as a mediator I will contribute an agreed amount to Friary Law in lieu of the course. If I do not work as a mediator I will not pay a contribution."
Former minister of state for education Síle de Valera received a painting entitled Youth Work, Ireland but presented it to the department. Under contracts, her successor as junior minister, Seán Haughey TD, declares: "Supply of helicopter services: Celtic Helicopters Ltd., Dublin Airport".
