FORMER TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern almost doubled the number of speaking engagements abroad last year, according to the 2009 Register of Interests for Dáil deputies published last night.
In his declaration, Mr Ahern discloses that he was afforded travel facilities for 16 trips abroad during 2009, compared to nine the previous year. The locations included New York, Honduras, Amsterdam, Chicago, Dubai and Madrid.
Details of the trips on the declaration form show that most were paid engagements. Five are listed as organised by the Washington Speakers Bureau. The fee for Mr Ahern is listed as a minimum of $40,000 (€29,200) for each engagement on the bureau’s website, which would make for a potential income for those five engagements of €146,000.
Mr Ahern also participated in four events in Ireland, Britain and the US, organised by Co-operation Ireland.
He listed a trip to Bari, Italy, at the end of March 2009 as a guest of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). He said the trip was “in recognition of my support for the FAI”.
In occupational income, Mr Ahern lists fees from publication of his autobiography, as well as income for his work as a sports columnist with the News of the World, but the register does not state the amount received.
He is also a director of the private development company Parker Green, based in Newry, Co Down.
His declaration also emphasises his voluntary work: “Since retiring as taoiseach, I have attended a large number of functions for charities, practically all on the island of Ireland, for which no costs are received.”
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Brian Cowen discloses interests in three rented properties – two in Dublin and one in Leeds. Substantial property interests are disclosed by Galway West Fianna Fáil TD Frank Fahey; Roscommon Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan; Dublin North Fine Gael TD James Reilly; and Dublin South TD Alan Shatter (FG). Seán Haughey (FF, Dublin North Central) and Ned O’Keeffe (FF, Cork East) both have extensive share portfolios.
More than 50 TDs have declared interests in properties other than their homes (excluding agricultural property). Some 38 of the 166 TDs have declared “nil” interests outside their Dáil salaries and allowances.
Mr Cowen discloses that he made a “€1,000 charity bet at Paddy Power plc”. All proceeds were donated to the Irish Hospice Foundation.
Minister for Health Mary Harney declared hotel accommodation expenses for four nights in Italy while speaking at a conference on cancer. “Don’t know value, believe it was under €650,” stated Ms Harney in her declaration form.
