Robert Troy has said he never intended to cover up any property business interests.

The Longford-Westmeath TD resigned as Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in August 2022 after media reports highlighted certain properties he fully or partly owned that hadn’t been declared to the Oireachtas.

He has been answering questions today at a hearing by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

The Fianna Fáil TD told the hearing he made inadvertent errors in his statement of interest to the Oireachtas for the years 2020 and 2021.

'Lack of due diligence'

In a statement following his resignation in 2022, Deputy Troy said his “biggest offence” was a “lack of due diligence” regarding his declarations.

"However, one issue in isolation is excusable but the number of errors now that are of my making directly or indirectly has led me to this decision."

Robert Troy in Dublin, 01-07-2022. Image: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

He added that these were "genuine errors and human errors and were not intentional".

“I hold myself to a high standard and that is the reason I have taken this decision of my own counsel.”

Deputy Troy also said he would “not apologise for being a landlord”.

"I bought my first house at the age of 20 as I went straight into a job after school, so I was in a position to purchase my first property then.

"I am not a person of privilege and I have not been brought up with a silver spoon in my mouth, I have worked for all I have."

Mayo TD Dara Calleary has held Troy’s enterprise portfolio since 2022.

Reporting from Caoiseach Connolly.

Main image: File photo of Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie