There was anguish and gnashing of teeth, but also some ribaldry, in Leinster House this week at Ireland on Sunday's list of the Dail's 25 millionaire members. Albert Reynolds came tops, followed by Deirdre Clune and Sean Haughey - whom the paper claims are set for huge inheritances, then Sean Barrett, Michael Lowry, Jim O'Keeffe, Noel O'Flynn, Simon Coveney (more inheritance), Alan Shatter and Michael Collins. Their wealth ranged from £10m to £3m.
Angriest of all was Cork's O'Flynn who told the FF Parliamentary Party on Wednesday he fears for his personal safety. He has asked Brian Lenihan, chairman of the Committee on the Constitution, to look at unacted upon recommendations in the 1967 Constitution review that offences against parliament and its members be dealt with by special legislation. While he had no problem with a register of interests, he was opposed to a paper putting a value on assets and is taking the matter up with the clerk of the Dail, Kieran Coughlan and Chief Whip Seamus Brennan.
It was not so long ago, O'Flynn says, that people were being kidnapped for large ransoms and he and his family may now be an easy target because of the estimates of the value of his business and property. "My private residence could be cased by criminals for robberies. This is an awful price to pay for being in public life. I wonder is it worth it all?"
Quidnunc is at rholohan@irish-times.ie