Galway senators declare their interests

Pádraig Ó Céidigh tops the list of Galway-based senators’ business interests, with shares in aviation and transport companies, as well as nursing homes, according to the newly-published Seanad Register of Interests for 2016.

The independent senator – who lives in Spiddal – lists his occupations as ‘aviation/senator’ with Galway Aviation Services in Inverin as well as a public broadcaster with RTE.

He also declared shares in Galway Aviation Services, Forbairt Atlantis, Cornaron Teo, Calket, Compoird Teo, Ronnach Teo, Bainistíocht Aerfort, Cúran Baile Casla Teo, Everdeal Holdings and Fáinleog Teo.

Mr Ó Céidigh is also an executive director of Galway Aviation Services and Forbairt Atlantis Teo as well as a non-executive director of Cornaron, Calket, Comoird, Ronnach, Bainistíocht Aerfort, Cúram Baile Casla, Croke Park Teo, RTE and Fáinleog Teo.

He also listed contracts with the HSE between his nursing home companies in Inverin, with An Post for postal transport and a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to provide an air link with the Aran Islands.

Sinn Féin’s Trevor Ó Clochartaigh declared rental income from a chalet adjacent to his home in Carraroe, and owns an unoccupied house on a small holding at An Áird Mhóir, Cill Chairáin. He explained this is his father’s house which was left to him in his will and is going through probate.

Chicago-based independent senator Billy Lawless lists his occupation as a restaurateur, owning three premises in Chicago.

He has also declared holiday homes on the Old Bog Road in Menlo in Galway and a condominium in the Hilton Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr Lawless also owns two premises on Michigan Avenue in Chicago from where his Acanto and Gage restaurants trade.

As a retirement fund, he has also invested in Capital Bank & Trust American Balanced Fund; Capital World Growth and Income Fund and A New Perspective Fund, all in the US.

He has also listed a series of directorships, including 25 S Michigan; Henri and Dangan (the companies which operate the restaurants) and Lawless Consulting Inc. He is the founder and President of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform; Vice President of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; board member of the Illinois Restaurant Association and a member of the Hibernian Charity Board of Trustees. He is also co-chair of the Chicago-Galway Sister City Committee.

Senator Rónán Mullen is a lecturer with the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown – and on a career break since 2015 and is also in receipt of rental income.

He owns farmland in Aughrim and also has mortgaged houses in Maynooth, Co Kildare and Glasnevin, Dublin.

Senator Gerard Craughwell has declared his occupation as a full-time member of the Seanad, while he is also on a career break from his teaching post with Dublin-Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board. He is also on a break from the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, where he is a past President.

His only other declaration was 1,000 shares in Bank of Ireland.

Meanwhile, other senators from outside Galway with interests here include Paul Coghlan from Kerry, who owns a student apartment at the Glasán complex near GMIT; Michelle Mulherin from Mayo owns an apartment at Cúirt Seoige in Bohermore, Galway, while unsuccessful Dáil candidate John O’Mahony owns an apartment on Sean Mulvoy Road in the city.