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Ireland slips in corruption rankings
Mr Devitt Tansparency International Ireland
lack of action on the Moriarty tribunal’s findings has been blamed for Ireland slipping down a world ranking on corruption perception.
Ireland now sits behind Uruguay and the Bahamas in 25th place of the index, compiled by Transparency International.
The group warns the results could hurt Ireland’s economic recovery by turning investors away, frightened by the idea that Government decisions are not been taken in a fair and equitable manner. “Small, open economies are much more exposed to reputational risk than their more powerful counterparts,” said John Devitt, chief executive of Transparency International Ireland.
The ranking is the lowest ever for Ireland and is an 11-place descent from just two years ago.
The index – which draws on surveys of experts and businesspeople – gives an assessment of a country’s political risk and is used by credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s as a way of measuring the potential for sovereign debt default.
The Moriarty and Mahon tribunals showed how corruption and payments to politicians existed at Government level, while the lack of holding people to account was having an effect on how the country was perceived, the group said.
“There appears to have been very little action taken on foot of the publication of the final Moriarty tribunal report, while the Taoiseach’s decision to make public appearances with Denis O’Brien after the publication of the report will have done our international reputation no favours,” said Mr Devitt.
Countries topping the index are Denmark, Finland and New Zealand – all jointly tied in first place. Other European states ahead of Ireland include Switzerland, the Netherlands, Iceland, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium, the UK and France. Uruguay is ranked 20 while the Bahamas is ranked 22. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia all rank at the bottom, in 174th place.
The group urged the Government to bring more transparency to the public sector, along with reforms to give the Oireachtas more powers. “Our reputation for cronyism and other forms of corruption will drive many honest businesses towards more open and well regulated economies’, Mr Devitt added.
Transparency International Ireland in 2009 estimated the Government could be losing €1 billion a year in investment from abroad because of its relatively low position in the index, which then was 14th place.
The Moriarty tribunal in 1997 began investigating payments to politicians. It found businessman Denis O’Brien made payments to former minister for communications Michael Lowry, who “secured the winning” of a mobile phone licence in 1995 for him. Both men deny the finding
via Ireland slips in corruption rankings – The Irish Times – Wed, Dec 05, 2012.
Johnnie Citizen (Pub banter)
Well, if it isn’t Johnny Citizen. What are you having me boy?
Go on twist me arm, a pint of Plain.
Thanks Sham
Not much twisting in your arm JC
Well, boy how do yous think the current lot is performing?
Sure, be Jaysus are we not still on the road to nowhere.
How would you compare Le Grand Dame to her predecessors?
Well now, let me see Sham.
First, we had.
Charlie “The Governor” Renowned gunrunner, Master of corruption, patronage, and public scandals-Money earned tainted with secrecy and dishonor.
As a man, he struck terror into his subordinates.
He suffered from ill health and a faulty memory when it came to giving evidence at investigating tribunals.
Then along came.
Albert Dancer:
Dancer was the de facto master of cowboy politics and one time right hand man of the Governor until he stabbed him in the back.
Dancer raised $1 million in the USA for party funds of which only e70, 000 found its way to party HQ. His Government plane on this trip made an unscheduled 5-hour stopover in the Bahamas. My understanding is the rest of the money fell off the plane.
You know this Dancer chap has links to many a shady deal
Just like his old boss “The Governor,” “The Dancer” was declared medically unfit to give evidence at investigating Tribunals because of a “significant cognitive impairment”. Which in plain speak is I conveniently forgot.
Listen up sham for now we get to
When elected To-Shocked he issued the following personal statement.
“The public are entitled to have an absolute guarantee of the financial probity and integrity of their elected representatives, their officials and above all of Ministers”
This very same man signed government cheques for his then master the Governor to squander on champagne, mistresses and to preen himself with garments of refinement.
The Anorak whilst a senior government Minister managed to get by without having a bank account despite receiving large amounts of cash.
In a statement, he made concerning undeclared payments of E50, 00 he said, “Lads the money is just “restin”” in me account.
At the time of the receipt of the money, he had no bank account.
One must assume he kept the money under der mattress.
In common with his predecessors, the Anorak has no recollection of receiving monies from patrons. When it came to giving evidence to inquiries, the memory of the Anorak failed to function
Once the Anorak fell out of favor, none other than “The Great Incompetent” Mr. Biffo Buttocks assumed the role of leader..
The Great Incompetent was possibly the worst To-Shocked in the history of Rotten Island. Thankfully, the abode of this bungler is now the rubbish bin of history. People will remember him as the last leader of the circus of lies, cover-ups, and rampant but sociably acceptable corruption.
The man was the master of public calamities…
He was spotted smoking in a no-smoking Zone.
Toilet cartoons of him had been but on display and were known to all and sundry.
However, more troubling was the headline in the Daily Trombone” “Biffo the Boozer” Alcohol looser which highlighted his antics at a party function dressed as a cardinal singing thank heaven for little boys. Subsequently, this story of him being dressed in clerical garments turned out to be untrue. We can assure our readers that Misebogland would never stoop so low to boost readership circulation by printing a story like this.
This man finally brought shame on the nation by bankrupting the country.
His final words on leaving office were, “bugger the economy. Me pension is good, screw the begrudgers; the boys on the dog track will see me back spending the few bob” and I be as happy as Larry.
Now, Johnnie and what about your one Le Grand Dame will she make the grade?
Ah, fuck her Sham let’s have a few more pints and watch the match.
