CIGARS, cider and concert tickets are just some of the gifts received by Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew during her time as Agriculture Minister at Stormont, TheDetail.tv has revealed.

The DUP’s Arlene Foster, the current finance minister and former enterprise minister, has received all kinds of gifts, too, including a blouse, a bottle of whiskey and a book on ‘remarkable trees.’ Between the two of them, Mrs. Foster and Ms. Gildernew have received over 200 gifts from community groups, councils, foreign dignitaries, ambassadors, supermarkets and many others.

The gifts can now be revealed after TheDetail.tv obtained a list of the items following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

From 2007 to 2011, former Assembly Member Michelle Gildernew received two cigars and Christmas decorations from a Greek Minister, a Chocolate cake from a Dungannon bakery, a bottle of 12 year old single malt Bushmills, a Tyrone crystal bowl, and a bottle of whiskey.

In addition to three boxes of potatoes, Punjana tea bags, Skea free range eggs, a necklace set from Sainsburys and a signed James Martin cookery book, Ms. Gildernew received a celtic picture, hurling stick and wildflower book from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.

She also received several bouquets of flowers, six bottles of Bulmers, one bottle of Tullymore Dew, two gammon joints, two packets of sausages, one packet of bacon and a bottle of wine from Tesco. There was also a bottle of wine and glass candlestick from the Ambassador of Slovenia and two complementary tickets for a concert by The Police which she didn’t go to.

After attending dinners hosted by the Ulster Farmers’ Union, Ms. Gildernew was provided with overnight accommodation on two occasions at four star hotels, namely the Slieve Donard Hotel and the Galgorm Manor.

Asked to comment on the gifts, Ms. Gildernew told this newspaper: “As you can see, I got a great range of gifts during my time as DARD Minister and I truly appreciated all of them, the smallest gift just to say thank you means so much. I still have most of them, apart from the food and the alcohol, obviously. I received an assortment of food on regular basis, so my children certainly acquired a taste for a range of cheeses, nuts, et cetera.” Gifts for Finance Minister Arlene Foster, who was previously enterprise minister and environment minister, have been listed for a 12 month period between 2007 and 2008. These gifts included: a blouse, a clock and compact mirror from the mayor of Derry City Council, a book on Kosovo Museum from a Kosovo Minister, a handbag and a bottle of whiskey. There was also a book (‘meeting with remarkable trees’) a wooden goblet, a Tyrone crystal paperweight, two whiskey glasses, a presentation cup and saucer and a commemorative bit of flooring where the engine of the Titanic was built.

Asked if she had ever worn the blouse and where the piece of Titanic flooring is now, Finance Minister Arlene Foster said: “Engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, forging links and cultivating relationships are important elements of a Ministerial portfolio. As Minister I have accepted a number of gifts as token gestures that represent those important relationships.”