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.

Labour health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan is a caring director in organisations, in the Red Ribbon project to support victims of AIDS, the Limerick Rape Crisis Centre and in dance and theatre companies.

Labour TD for Galway West, Michael D Higgins, said he had made an extra income from Causes for Concern, his politics book published last year, and his only property is Aimhirgin, the house he shares with his wife.

He also earns money from his ministerial pension, and NUI Galway where he used to teach.

Two Cork TDs, Bernard Allen and Deirdre Clune, got the loan of cars from two different motor dealers to help them with their election campaigns.

As well as earning from cattle, sheep and a pub, Independent Jackie Healy Rae, declared the gift of an office in Killarney from Maurice O’Donoghue, owner of the Gleneagle Hotel group and son of a Fianna Fáil councillor.

Cyprian Brady had to give up his job as “office administrator” for Fianna Fáil when he got a seat in Dublin Central in the summer.

Fellow Fianna Fáil Dublin deputy Michael Mulcahy has shares in five financial institutions and banks. Limerick’s Michael Noonan has nearly a dozen different shares spread through a Parisian company.

Gaeltacht Minister Éamon Ó Cuív is the only TD to declare “Tada”.

Former Ceann Comhairle Rory O’Hanlon has a range of shares, including interests in Independent News and Media, National Toll Roads. as well as several banks and pharmaceutical groups.

Other TDs’ interests include Cork’s Jim O’Keeffe’s shares in a company mining in Indonesia and Fianna Fáil rebel TD Ned O’Keeffe’s shares in the energy company Shell.

Top 10 earners

TEN of the TDs with greatest earnings outside politics.

* Frank Fahey, Junior Justice Minister, has shares in two property companies and two financial institutions. He owns about 30 properties in Ireland and houses in Dubai and France. He has paid deposits for three properties in Portugal.

* Alan Shatter, while still earning income as a solicitor, has interests in 15 properties including several in Florida, the US and London as well as shares in six firms.

* James O’Reilly (FG), a practising doctor, has shares in banking and media as well as interests in 10 properties and up to 245 acres of land.

* Solicitor and TD Jim O’Keeffe has shares in 30 companies, including in IT, banking and mining and he also has interests in 176 acres of land and properties.

* Richard Bruton, Fine Gael finance spokesman, makes money from farmland and owns 125 acres. He has shares in a number of financial institutions including AIB and Irish Life and Permanent.

* Seán Haughey (FF) has shares in 29 companies in Ireland, Italy, London and Germany, including Tesco. He has three residential properties and supplies helicopters under Celtic Helicopters.

* Noel Grealish (PD) is owner of the Galway Glass Centre, has 15 acres of farmland, a commercial unit in a business park and a house in France.

* Sean Power, Junior Minister at the Department of Justice, has declared shares in 22 companies including in energy, oil and banks. He admitted previously in failing to declare mining shares, which he sold for €18,694.

* Ned O’Keeffe, earns an income from farming, has shares in 41 companies including in banking, pharmaceuticals and property.

* Frank Feighan (FG) makes money from commercial property rental. He has interests in 14 properties and shares in 29 companies including Ryanair and African gold mining companies.