Despite the change in government this year, Ireland has fallen further behind northern European neighbours to 19th place in the ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ (CPI).

With this in mind, Transparency International (TI) Ireland is calling once again on the government to honour its pledges for reform. TI have asked for reform in areas such as the provision of legislation to provide universal guarantees for whistleblowers, extend access to official information, reform funding of political parties and establish a mandatory register of lobbyists.

Ireland’s reputation has been tarnished by the banking crisis which exposed a cosy-cartel culture involving bankers, business elites and politicians.

The latest CPI from 2011 shows that Ireland’s ranking has fallen from 14th to 19th out of 183 countries with a score of 7.5 out of ten. Ireland now compares poorly with our northern European neighbours, with only France achieving a lower score.

TI Ireland’s chief executive, John Devitt, said Ireland’s poor ranking in relation to its northern European neighbours could deter much needed international investment.

“Ireland’s reputation has been tarnished by the banking crisis which exposed a cosy-cartel culture involving bankers, business elites and politicians. This same pernicious culture brought us the Moriarty Tribunal, the Planning Tribunal, the DIRT inquiry and more. The country’s international reputation now rests as much on our leaders’ commitment to open up government and uphold the rule of law as it does on fixing our economy.”

According to TI Ireland, Mr Devit has called for the Criminal Assets Bureau to be given the resources it needs to investigate the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.

Speak Up helpline

TI Ireland has been operating a free-phone ‘Speak Up’ helpline for whistleblowers, as well as witnesses and victims of corruption and fraud since May this year. TI say that up to the end of November this year they have received 150 reports to the helpline.

According to TI a small number of people have contacted the helpline about reporting wrongdoing within organisations. “We wouldn’t have expected too many people who are working in those bodies to speak up,” said Mr Devitt in an interview with The Epoch Times earlier this year.

Mr Devitt’s reasoning being that the legislation to give comprehensive blanket guarantee protection to whistleblowers within organisations, has yet to be introduced. He therefore does not expect to see a rise in those numbers until such protection is provided.

“The commitments in the programme for government are quite specific in regard to whistleblowing; it states that the government will introduce whistleblowers legislation, and I would like to confirm that commitment that we will legislate to protect whistleblowers who speak out against wrongdoing,” said Minister Brendan Howlin earlier this year.

With respect to future funding, Mr Devitt is on record as saying that he is hopeful that someone or a group of donors will come in behind the project and lend it the support it needs.

Global impact

According to Transparency International, the 2011 Corruption Perceptions highlight the fact that corruption continues to be an issue in many countries. Many governments continue to fail to protect their citizens from corruption. Abuse of public resources, bribery or secretive decision making are the main forms of corruption.

“This year we have seen corruption on protestors’ banners, be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.

Corruption Perceptions Index 2011: The results

The index scores 183 countries and territories from 0 (highly corrupt) to 10 (very clean) based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. It uses data from 17 surveys that look at factors such as enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest.
Two thirds of ranked countries score less than 5.

New Zealand ranks first, followed by Finland and Denmark. Somalia and North Korea (included in the index for the first time), are last.

“2011 saw the movement for greater transparency take on irresistible momentum, as citizens around the world demand accountability from their governments. High-scoring countries show that over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sustained, be successful and benefit their people,” said Transparency International Managing Director, Cobus de Swardt.

TI say that most Arab Spring countries rank in the lower half of the index, scoring below 4. Transparency International highlighted the potential for corruption in the region previously citing nepotism, bribery and patronage as factors that were leading to corruption.

Eurozone countries suffering debt crises, partly because of public authorities’ failure to tackle the bribery and tax evasion that are key drivers of debt crisis, are among the lowest-scoring EU countries.
The CPI measures perceptions of business people and experts of corruption in the public sector including corruption involving public officials, civil servants or politicians. It looks at factors such as enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest. Its findings are regularly used by business analysts, rating agencies and investors to measure the quality of regulation and rule of law in those countries listed on the index.