FORMER TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern lists a Washington-based lecture agency and his role as compere of a one-off RTÉ sports programme, The Road to Croker, as sources of occupational income in the latest Dáil Éireann “register of members’ interests”, published on the Leinster House website last night.
The annual list, which appeared without advance notice to the news media, features the information supplied by politicians as to their interests and sources of income.
In the case of the RTÉ programme, Mr Ahern states that the fee received was “donated to local GAA club”.
His two other sources of occupational income, outside payments received from the State as an elected representative, are given as “Voluntary member of Global Agenda Council: World Economic Forum”, based in Geneva, and “Speaker for World Lecture Agency: Washington Speaker’s Bureau”. Mr Ahern answers “nil” under the headings of “shares” and “land” but acknowledges he is a director and vice-chairman of the advisory board of a Newry-based property development and investment company, Parker Green International.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen describes himself as a “silent partner” in firm of solicitors, non-practising: O’Donovan and Cowen, William Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Mr Cowen has three properties which he is letting: at Carr Mills, Leeds; an apartment at Golden Lane, Dublin 7; and the third property at Mount Brown, Dublin 8.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny lists only the allowance he receives from the party as leader and a “part-pension as a former minister” as well as membership of three golf clubs.
Fianna Fáil TD Frank Fahey has extensive property interests, including ownership or part- ownership of apartments, houses, retail units or offices at Galway City; Gort, Co Galway; Leixlip, Co Kildare; Athlone, Co Westmeath; Limerick; “House at Jumeirah Estates, Dubai”; Boston, Massachusetts; Castlerea, Co Roscommon; Brussels; Villefranche, France; Porto De Mos and Alcantarillha, Portugal (deposits paid); Irishtown, Dublin.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly holds three company directorships in the areas of medical training, construction and property leasing and management. He has property interests.
Cork East Fianna Fáil TD Ned O’Keeffe has again registered one of the longest share lists, including holdings in Permanent TSB, AIB Bank, Bank of Ireland, Readymix concrete products, Vodafone, CRH and other companies, making a total of 40.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan lists his interests as “nil” in all categories. Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is letting 37 acres of land at Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
The full list is available at http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc