Prose for O’Dea, bikes for Ryan, dogs for Bertie

FOR Michael D Higgins, it was a book of prose, for Willie O’Dea it was African mines, for Jackie Healy Rae a room to meet with his people in Killarney, and for Bertie Ahern a few free tickets to the dogs.

Declarations of how the country’s TDs benefited from gifts and extra income seemed to fit well with the public persona each of them likes to put across.

While Fianna Fáil TDs mostly stuck with property companies, Energy Minister and Green TD Eamon Ryan declares his company directorships in Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd, Belfield Bike Shop and UCD cycling tours.