Harney revealed as biggest loser as TDs suffer from banking crisis

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney was last night revealed to be a big loser in the collapse of Bank of Ireland shares.

The register of members’ interests published by the Oireachtas also showed Fine Gael finance spokes- man Richard Bruton was a shareholder in the scandal-hit Anglo Irish Bank.

The register showed a number of TDs suffered financially as a result of the stock market turmoil of the past 12 months.

Former Tánaiste Ms Harney declared shares, held jointly with her husband Brian Geoghegan, in Bank of Ireland, AIB and financial services firm Dublin 4.

Ms Harney noted in the register that: “Although the value exceeded €13,000 when acquired, they do not do so now.”

Former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan also revealed he held shares in Anglo Irish.

The bank was at the centre of intense controversy for the past six months after secret loans to its directors were made public. It later emerged a “Golden Circle” of 10 investors were lent money by the bank to buy shares in the institution which was eventually nationalised in January.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea declared he held shares in West African Diamonds and Persian Gold.

A number of TDs held shares in Bank of Ireland or AIB and would have taken a financial hit in the past year as the stock price of both collapsed.

Last September, the Government guaranteed savings in the two banks and four others. Ministers agreed a rescue package for the banks last month which sees €5bn of taxpayers money pumped in to recapitalise them.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern declared a directorship for a Newry-based development company.

He also listed “travel facilities” including flights to the European Cup final in Moscow last May and flights and accommodation in Malta and New York.

Mr Ahern listed only one gift in the register, honorary membership of Clontarf Golf Club, but added: “I do not receive any material benefit from this as I do not play golf.”