Frank Fahey

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Frank Fahey (Irish: Proinsias Ó Fathaigh; born 6 June 1951) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Galway West.

Frank Fahey was born in June 1951 in Galway. He was educated at St. Mary's College, Our Lady's College and University College Galway. He was a school teacher before he entered politics. Fahey was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the February 1982 general election. In 1987 he was appointed Minister for Sport (an appointment which did not carry cabinet rank). This was a particularly successful era for Irish sport: Stephen Roche won the Tour de France, and the Irish soccer team qualified for Euro '88 and Italia '90.

Fahey lost his Dáil seat in the 1992 general election. He was, however, appointed to Seanad Éireann, serving in the 20th Seanad until 1997. Following Fianna Fáil's victory in the 1997 general election Fahey returned to the Dáil and was appointed a Junior Minister with special responsibility for Children. In January 2000 he was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources. Following the re-election of the out-going government in 2002 general election Fahey was not retained in the Cabinet as a full Minister. Instead, he currently serves as a Junior Minister in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Contents 1 Investments, Property and the Russian Mafia 1.1 Committee on Procedures and Privileges, July 2006 2 Political Career 3 External links

[edit] Investments, Property and the Russian Mafia

The Irish Times, reported in 2006, that in 1994, when Frank Fahey was a Senator, on a modest salary of £19,486 (€24,747), he became involved in establishing a hair and beauty salon business in Moscow involving an investment of over £200,000 (€254,000).

Several Irish businessmen had established a company in Limerick, Irlasto, which facilitated investors who wanted to become involved in the Russian market. The emerging Russian market held out the prospect of very substantial profits at that time.

However, many investments in Russia involve the Russian Mafia. This investment needed a special payment in 1994 of $45,000 to secure a landmark Moscow premises.

The Irish Times also published details of correspondence in relation to Fahey's involvement in this venture:

A communication to Noel Daly, manager of the Bank of Ireland, Eyre Square, Galway, from Maurice Hartery, of Irlasto, dated March 29th, 1995, stated: "Re Frank Fahey. Dear Mr Daly, This is to confirm that relevant contracts are now in place for Mr Frank Fahey's overseas operation and he will be in a position to transfer funds late next week."

In July 1995 Mr Fahey wrote to Mr Schenkov regarding "payment of $17,400 which is due to me from DVA for the extras involved in the construction of Tressals Hair Salon . . . I am under severe pressure as I borrowed this money personally last September. If there is any possibility that you can forward this money to me, I would be most grateful."

A note from Mr Fahey, dated October 21st, 1994, to Mr McCarthy, stated: "Dear John, Further to our telephone conversation, I wish to confirm that the 55 per cent shareholding in Jolerino Ltd, which is the holding company for Tressals, is held by Michael O'Connor, Cross Street, Galway, and Ethelle Fahey, Gort, Co Galway."

Fahey maintains that as his wife was the investor in the project he is not obliged to report this to Ireland's Standards in Public Office Commission. Thera are also no declarations by Fahey of donations received listed in the Commission's 2005 report.

Fahey has assembled a very extensive property portfolio. Some are registed in his own name while others are held in partnership with relatives of associates These are located in his native Galway city and county, Dublin, France, Belgium, Portugal and the United States. Fahey also owns or has shares in, shops and development land as well as six houses and 10 apartments in Ireland.

The media has continued to question the source of this wealth and stories linking Fahey to payments at a fund raiser by Ireland's mackerel fleet continue to circulate.

[edit] Committee on Procedures and Privileges, July 2006

Fahey wrote to this Committee citing the remarks of Trevor Sargent Teachta Dála in the Dáil when Sargent referred to Fahey as a dodgy builder and accused him of being able to avoid tax in building up a multi-million € property empire and failing to declare interests in a Moscow hairdressing business. Sargent also maintained that Fahey had given 75% of the total State compensation for fisheries vessels lost at sea to two constituents (of Fahey's) and giving half of Ireland's mackerel quota to one boat, the Atlantic Dawn.

Fahey failed to secure the necessary 75% committee vote to censure Sargent and his predictable failure embarrassed and annoyed his Fianna Fáil colleagues

[edit] Political Career

Preceded by Mark Killilea	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Galway West 1982–1992	Succeeded by Éamon Ó Cuív
Preceded by Margaret Cox	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Galway West 1997 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Newly created office	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Youth and Sport) 1987–1992	Succeeded by Liam Aylward
Preceded by Denis Lyons	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Tourism) 1989–1992	Succeeded by Office abolished
Preceded by Austin Currie	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Children) 1997–2000	Succeeded by Mary Hanafin
Preceded by Michael Woods	Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources 2000–2002	Succeeded by Dermot Ahern
Preceded by Tom Kitt	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Labour Affairs) 2002–2004	Succeeded by Tony Killeen
Preceded by Willie O'Dea	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Equality) 2004 – present	Incumbent

[edit] External links

• Frank Fahey
• Fianna Fáil
• Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
• Standards in Public Office Commission

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database