Kildare TD James Lawless Amongst 75% Of Landlords Who Haven't Properly Declared Their Rental Properties

Thursday, 8 September 2022 10:31

By Caoimhe Harney

James Lawless has asked the committee if he must give the full address of his rented property and is awaiting a response.

Fifteen of the current Dáil’s 20 landlords have failed to provide the full addresses of their properties as required by Oireachtas guidelines.

Among the 15 is Kildare North TD James Lawless who failed to properly declare the address of one property to the register of interests, according to The Ditch.

The Fianna Fail TD has said he didn't properly state his property's full address on the register because he doesn't want journalists turning up at his tenant's door.

"I don't give the house number and street name, and the reason for that is very simple, it was my family home for a long time, it's now a different families home," he said.

Deputy Lawless explained that he signed up for public life when he entered politics, but said that the family that are now occupying his family home didn't.

The Fianna Fail man said he didn't think "it was fair" to have the address of someone's home potentially published in a national newspapers.

Deputy Lawless claims that it is in the best interest of his tenants to omit the exact address of the property from the RTB registration, despite being in breach of the guidelines.

“You should disclose the full address of any land or property in which you have a registrable interest,” reads the guidelines.

Landlord TDs and senators are required under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 to declare their interests in rental properties.

According to guidelines circulated to all Oireachtas members, TDs and senators must state the properties’ complete addresses.

Deputy Lawless has asked the committee if he must give an address and is awaiting a response.

He claims the guidelines are interpreted by the committee every year.

He insists if the committee's response is that he must list the address then " he will absolutely comply."

Listen back to the full interview with Fianna Fail TD, James Lawless here:

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