The compulsory disclosure of politicians' assets, gifts, trips and donations is not confined to Ireland. In the US, a similar list has just been released and shows some Irish connections. Senator Edward Kennedy discloses that he and his wife Victoria took a three-day trip to Ireland last summer paid for by Emdee Productions, Mike Murphy's company, which is making a documentary about him.
Sinn Fein paid for trips to Ireland by Congressmen Peter King and Richard Neal to address meetings in Northern Ireland. Senator Christopher Dodd lists a third share in a cottage in Roundstone, Co Galway, among his assets but says he has a mortgage on it.