81 IRISH POLITICIANS ON DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

Exclusive travel documents issued to TDS and Senators

MORE than eighty TDS and Senators have been granted diplomatic passports which can help them skip airport queues and security checks.

The documents – given on the agreement of the Foreign Affairs Minister – can also yield access to VIP lounges at airports as well as seat upgrades.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs said the passports are only to be used for business, they confirmed there was no monitoring of whether they were used for personal travel.

A list provided by the department names 81 TDS and Senators who benefit from the diplomatic papers, including 27 serving ministers and ministers of state. Another 32 TDS are also listed including the Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail and former ministers Charlie Flanagan, Denis Naughten, Barry Cowen and Joe Mchugh.

From Fianna Fail, TDS with a diplomatic pass include Dublin’s John Lahart and Sean Haughey and Cork’s James O’connor. Several Fine Gael TDS also have been granted one, with Dublin’s Alan Farrell,

Cork representative David Stanton, and Jennifer Carroll Macneill all listed.

There are also Sinn Fein representatives including Aengus O Snodaigh, Pa Daly, Sorca Clarke and Pauline Tully.

TDS from smaller parties include the Green Party’s Francis Noel Duffy, Social Democrat Gary Gannon and Brendan Howlin from Labour. The department said 22 serving senators also have diplomatic passports, including Independents Ronan Mullen and Sharon Keogan.

The department also said that a new diplomatic passport was “in progress” for Independent Senator Frances Black.

Asked what checks took place to ensure the passports were only used for official business, a spokesman said there was none.

He added: “[The department] does not monitor the official or personal travel plans of these passport holders.”