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Stephen Donnelly admits failure to renew tenancy registration with RTB

Stephen Donnelly had declared a south Dublin rental property on the Dáil register of members' interests
Stephen Donnelly had declared a south Dublin rental property on the Dáil register of members' interests

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has admitted that he failed to renew a rental property registration with the Residential Tenancies Board.

In a statement, his spokesperson said this was due to "an oversight" and had been corrected online "last week".

The minister had declared a south Dublin rental property on the Dáil register of members' interests.

However, the spokesperson added: "Due to an oversight, the tenancy registration was not renewed in 2019 when it should have been.

"The RTB indicated that this should be backdated online, which was done last week."

The error from Mr Donnelly, first reported by the Irish Times, follows the revelation that former minister of state and Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy had also failed to register a property on time.

Mr Donnelly's spokesperson added: "The minister has a property with a long-standing tenancy.

"That tenancy was registered and renewed with the RTB on a number of occasions (2011 and 2015).

"The minister's interests have been fully declared every year on the Dáil register of members' interests."

The three Coalition leaders have this evening given their backing to Minister Donnelly.

A spokesperson for Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "The Minister has explained his oversight in renewing a long-term tenancy with the RTB in 2019, and that his Member's Interests have been declared in full every year."

A spokesperson for Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: "This is a long-term tenancy which was previously registered and has been fully declared every year on his Register of Interests. Yes, the Tánaiste has confidence in Minister Donnelly."

A spokesperson for Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said: "Minister Ryan has confidence in Minister Donnelly."