Bruton lists lectures in TDs' interests register

The former Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, is developing a blossoming career on the international lecture circuit.

The former Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, is developing a blossoming career on the international lecture circuit.

Mr Bruton lists lectures, for most of which he was paid, in the United States, Uruguay and Brussels among speaking engagements he secured in the period after he resigned as leader of his party in the newly published register of TDs' interests.

Mr Bruton was a conference speaker at a sports executive leadership conference in Colorado, at an economic conference in Montevideo, Uruaguay and at a food conference in Brussels in 2001.

He also had engagements at conferences in Princeton and Yale universities in the United States, and received payment for consultancy advice he gave to the Maynooth University Foundation.

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The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, declared a gift of honorary membership of the Grange Golf Club in Rathfarnham.

But he said he would not realise any material benefit from it as he does not play golf.

Mr Ahern also declared receipt of a cheque for £1,000 (€1,270) from Precision Software Ltd, Castlewood House, Dublin, which he said he passed on to the Fianna Fáil Dublin Central constituency.

The Taoiseach listed the use of "St Lukes" in Drumcondra, Dublin, as a constituency office, with a value of €13,000, from Februrary 2001 to January of this year.

The former TD, Mr Liam Lawlor, listed himself as a consultant in the property sector in the declaration of interests.

He said for the last year he concentrated this business on the Czech Republic and said he also "looked at" other property projects in London through his company, Demographic and Strategic Consultants.

Mr Lawlor, who did not contest the general election, also declared an interest in four companies in the Channel Islands - Metro Launch, Pentagon Property Services, Clearview and Valley Holdings all with addresses at 8 Duhamel Place, St Helier, Jersey.

Two of the companies have land in Ireland.

Metro Launch owns a strip of land in which underground services are laid in Westbury Court, Lucan, said Mr Lawlor, while Valley Holdings owns a strip of land located at Adamstown Road, Lucan.

The Dublin South-West Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Conor Lenihan, declared in the register income as a corporate adviser for three companies, Esat Digifone, Photologic and Aerotech Aviation.

The Independent TD, Mr Michael Lowry, is listed as a director of Garuda Ltd and owns land at Glenreigh, Holycross, Co Tipperary.

He said he has 35 acres with land leased for farming.

Mr Lowry also lists a 10 per cent interest in a two-and-a-half acre site at Chesterfield Road, Marsfield, England, and part interest in a six-and-a-half acre site at Abbey Road, Thurles.

The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, is an honorary member at five golf clubs - Naas, Cill Dara, the K-Club, Knockanally and Mount Juliet.

Several TDs declared receiving flight upgrades. Donegal Fianna Fáil TD, Ms Celia Keaveney, was upgraded on a flight from the United States to Ireland in March 2001 with Continental Airlines.

The Minister for Sports, Mr O'Donoghue, said he availed of an "unsolicited" upgrade for himself and his family on a trip to France with Aer Lingus.

And the former minister for public enterprise, Ms Mary O'Rourke, received a free upgrade with Aer Lingus when she travelled to the US last September.