Almost one in every five TDs in the last Dáil declared they owned land or had shares in agricultural businesses, according to the registration of interests.

Along with owning land and their work as public representatives, 11 TDs listed farming as their occupation. These included the Healy Rae brothers, Michael and Danny, who listed 100ac of farmland and 100ac of forestry in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry.

Shares in dairy co-ops also featured on TDs’ lists of interests

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As well as farming, Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice works as an agri-contractor, while Michael Collins also works as a farm relief contractor. Shares in dairy co-ops also featured on TDs’ lists of interests.

Glanbia plc shares were listed by serving TDs John Paul Phelan, Jackie Cahill, former ICMSA president and Dublin TD Sean Haughey.

Cahill is also a director of Centenary Thurles Co-op and holds shares in the company. Haughey, son of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, also owns shares in Kerry Group.

Minister for Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton, who serves as a TD in Dublin Bay North, let farmland and a house in Dunboyne, Co Meath

Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher, now elected as an MEP, lists Kerry plc shares among his interests, along with a 186ac farm in Co Cork.

Among Government ministers, who are now serving in a caretaker role, with a farming interest was Minister for Enterprise Heather Humphreys who lists 25ha in Newbliss, Co Monaghan.

Minister for Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton, who serves as a TD in Dublin Bay North, let farmland and a house in Dunboyne, Co Meath. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed lists no interests related to agriculture.

A number of outgoing TDs, who will not be part of the 33rd Dáil, were heavily involved in agriculture.

Bobby Aylward, Declan Breathnach, Michael D’Arcy, Andrew Doyle and Kevin O’Keefe all worked as farmers as well as politicians.