Dublin, 20 March 2013
Transparency International Ireland welcomes safeguards agreed yesterday under the stewardship of the Irish EU Presidency to prevent conflicts of interest in the supervision of Eurozone banks by the European Central Bank.
The deal reached by negotiators from the European Parliament and the Irish EU Presidency will help to regulate the 'revolving door' between the ECB and the financial institutions it supervises.
Mr Michael Noonan T.D.
Minister for Finance
Department of Finance
Government Buildings
Upper Merrion Street
Dublin 2
11 March 201
Dear Minister,
TI Ireland was delighted to host a book launch by Irish corruption law expert Imelda Higgins BL and two leading figures in the global anti-corruption movement and co-founders of TI, Lawrence Cockcr
Transparency International will release its 18th annual Corruption Perceptions Index on 5 December 2012 at 05.00 GMT.
Transparency International Ireland invites you to a book-launch and panel discussion, showcasing three new important works on the fight against corruption in Ireland and worldwide.
Study on corruption in Ireland published today finds ‘partial progress’ in tackling the problem
105 biggest public companies reviewed. 61 based in Ireland. Only Statoil says how much it pays in corporation tax. 68 per cent report on anti-corruption measures
Dublin, 10 July 2012
2nd July 2012, The Irish Times (Read here)
TI Ireland's John Devitt co-signed a letter to The Irish Times highlighting the key issues the Cabinet needs to address before proceeding with plans on the constitutional convention.
Sir, – We call on the Government to establish a constitutional convention that is capable of fulfilling the Programme for Government’s commitment to “a real shift in power from the State to the citizen”. To achieve this, we believe there are some key issues the Cabinet needs to address before proceeding with the convention.
New plans for an innovative anti-corruption law that could allow a court to remove a TD (member of parliament) or minister from office and prevent them from holding office for up to ten years have
By John Devitt, Chief Executive, Transparency International Ireland
Wrongdoing continues to undermine economic stability
Dublin 6 June 2012
Anti-corruption group Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) today calls on political leaders to go beyond austerity policies to tackle fundamental governance gaps that undermine economic stability.
The call comes with the publication in Brussels of a report into corruption risks in Europe which highlights transparency deficits in the way policy decisions are made and political groups are funded in many EU countries, including Ireland.
The Transparency International report, 'Money, Politics and Power: Corruption Risks in Europe', highlights gaps in governance that contributed to the financial and political scandals in nearly every European country last year.
Dublin - 22 April 2012
Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) has said the revelations published by the Sunday Independent today will help focus attention on the need for wide-reaching reform of the systems that allowed our economy to collapse. The reports of how repeated advice from a civil servant on the risk of over-heating in the economy was dismissed, should not only help shine a light on events leading to the financial crisis, but also inform new legislation aimed at preventing the same thing happening again.
Dublin, 22 March 2012 - Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) has urged the Government to radically reform how corruption is investigated.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has published submissions on the Regulation of Lobbyists.&nbs
Dublin, 27 February 2012
Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) has welcomed the publication today of proposals for new legislation that should offer protection for whistleblowers across the public and private sectors. The Protected Disclosure in the Public Interest Bill 2012 will allow anyone working in business, government and the non-profit sectors comprehensive safeguards when disclosing information to their employers, the authorities, TDs or the press.
The European Commission this month published the Eurobarometer Report on ‘Attitudes of Europeans towards Corruption’ which presents the findings of a European wide survey on perceptions of corrupti
John Devitt, TI Ireland’s chief executive, will address a seminar on anti-bribery and corruption legislation in Ireland on 9th February 2012.
Transparency International Ireland urges employers to protect whistleblowers
Mr Alan Shatter T.D.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence
Department of Justice and Equality
94 St Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Ireland Falls Further Behind Northern European Neighbours in Corruption Perceptions Index
Dublin, 1 December 2011
Transparency International Ireland is calling on the government to honour its pledges for reform after its latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows that Ireland’s ranking has fallen and it now compares poorly to other northern European nations. The CPI 2011 shows Ireland tied with Belgium among northern European countries, with only France achieving a lower score. Britain was only one place ahead of Ireland.
Dublin, 11 November 2011
Transparency International Ireland (TII) welcomes Ireland’s ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Ratification of the Convention sends out a clear signal of Ireland’s commitment to tackle corruption, at home and abroad, and will go some way to repairing the damage that corruption has caused to Ireland’s international reputation. The Convention creates a framework for co-operation between legal authorities and governments to work together to investigate and prosecute cross-border corruption.
Transparency International today launched the 2011 Bribe Payers Index. The index ranks 28 leading international and regional exporting countries by the likelihood of their firms to bribe abroad.
Independent group should oversee FIFA reform
Berlin, Dublin, 16 August 2011 – Transparency International (TI), the anti-corruption organisation, calls on world football's governing body, FIFA, to carry out comprehensive governance reforms overseen by a group composed of representatives from outside FIFA (including representatives from media and civil society) and inside football (including federations, clubs, professional leagues, players, women’s football, referees, supporters) in a way that ensures its independence.
Transparency International Ireland has just appointed Nuala Haughey to the new post of Advocacy and Research Manage
8th August 2011, TV3 News
Watch here
6th August 2011, Marion Finucane Radio Show
Eugene McErlean on the need for one law to protect all whistleblowers
Dublin, 28 July 2011
Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) has called for reform of the country’s ethics laws and the establishment of a new complaints procedure for people reporting abuses of public office.
By John Devitt
The Irish Times online headline today looked promising. 'Whistleblower legislation to be fast-tracked', it read. Pressure has mounted on the Government to introduce whistleblower protection in the wake of the Rostrevor nursing home scandal. People have been afraid to speak up about abuse of patients, fraud and corruption because of weak whistleblower safeguards. Now, the absence of a robust whistleblower charter leaves those courageous people who exposed the alleged physical abuse of elderly patients at the Dublin care home vulnerable to unemployment and deportation.
TI Ireland Chief Executive John Devitt will be speaking at an upcoming conference on corruption and whistleblowing...
EBEN Research Conference 2011
Trinity College Dublin Business School, June 8-10
Does Integrity Matter?
By John Devitt
Five seconds after I finished the interview with Mary Wilson on RTE's Drivetime, the phone started ringing. In our first day (bearing in mind it's lunchtime as I'm writing this) we've taken around forty calls or emails from people looking to report or seeking advice through our new Speak Up helpline.
The "Speak Up" Helpline was launched on Thursday the 24th of May 2011 at the Wood Quay Venue in Dublin City Council Civic Offices. Speakers at the event included Mr. John Devitt, CEO of Transparency International Ireland; Mr. Brendin Howlin, the Minister for Public Sector Expenditure and Reform; Emily O'Reilly, the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner; and Bob Semple, partner in the Advisory practice in PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Here is a roundup of some of the media coverage of the event:
Dublin, 26 May 2011 – Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) will launch its new ‘Speak Up’ Helpline, Ireland’s first service for whistleblowers and victims of corruption, today. The Speak Up Helpline will offer free, confidential information to people facing ethical dilemmas, those reporting concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace, waste and fraud in public bodies, or people or organisations that have been the victim of corruption or white collar crime. The service is the first of its kind in Western Europe, although Transparency International chapters already operate such helplines in around forty countries worldwide.
Dublin, 19 May 2011 - Transparency International Ireland sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of former taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald who passed away eariler this morning.
Dublin, 18 May 2011 - Transparency International Ireland will launch its new Speak Up free information helpline and Transparency Resource Centre. This service will offer support for people facing ethical dilemmas or reporting concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace and government. It is one of the first of its kind in Western Europe and is partly funded by the European Commission.
Dublin, 29 March 2011 - Transparency International (TI) Ireland has welcomed the announcement that the Criminal Assets Bureau has begun an investigation into the finances of Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry T.D. following the release of the Moriarty report last week.
Dublin, 24 March 2011 - Transparency International (Transparency) Ireland has asked that the Gardaí, Criminal Assets Bureau, Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and Norwegian authorities lead investigations into any prima facie criminal activities or company law violations surrounding the award of Ireland’s second mobile licence in 1995.
Dublin, 4 March 2011 - Noel Wardick is the former Head of International Programmes at the Irish Red Cross (IRC) where he directed the IRC's overseas humanitarian relie
Dublin, 24 February 2011 - With the EU playing a greater role in Irish domestic affairs, there is an ever-growing need to make effective requests for documents held by EU institutions.
'Access to Documents and Transparency in the EU: a practical guide & the future of EU transparency law', is a public event jointly hosted by Transparency International Ireland and the Irish Society for European Law (ISEL).
Dublin, 18 February 2011 - Transparency International Ireland and ReformCard.com will host a public public forum on the political parties' proposals for reform during Election 2011.
Dublin, 9 February 2011 - The last programme for government contained clear but unfulfilled commitments on whistleblowers and corporate donations yet here again there is generally little commitment to specifics or timeframes
By John Devitt (this article appears in the current edition of Village Magazine)
The collapse of the Irish economy and collapse of trust in Irish politics has propelled reform up the political agenda. And given that any new government will have so little cash to play with, promises of institutional reform and open government are among the few they may be able to deliver.
Dublin, 9 December 2010 - Corruption levels have significantly increased, according to Irish public
Dublin, 9 December 2011 -
Central Council
The Irish Red Cross Society
c/o Mr. David J. O’Callaghan
Chairman
The Irish Red Cross Society
16 Merrion Square Dublin 2
Dear Mr O’Callaghan,
I write to formally and publicly raise the concerns of Transparency International Ireland with the Irish Red Cross Society over its dismissal of Mr. Noel Wardick, former Head of the Irish Red Cross’s International Department.
Dublin, 9 December 2010 - Transparency International Ireland will mark the launch of the Global Corruption Barometer and International Anti-Corruption Day by hosting a public event titled "Cleaning up Irish politics". This event will provide an opportunity to discuss the decline in public trust in government and politics in Ireland and explore some of the solutions to this decline.
Dublin, 25 October 2010 - Transparency International Ireland will mark the launch of the Corruption Perceptions Index with a public workshop on how corruption can be measured.
Dublin, 28 September 2010 - Transparency International Ireland is celebrating International Right to Know Day with a public workshop on access to information in Ireland.
Dublin, 19 July 2010 - Transparency International Ireland welcomes Standards in Public Office Commission annual report
Anti-corruption group Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) has repeated its call on the Government to introduce a single law protecting whistleblowers in both the public and private sector. The call was made after the State ethics watchdog the Standards in Public Office Commission (SiPOC) published its annual report for 2009 today.
Dublin, 27 May 2010 - The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has recently called for public and NGO submissions on the future of Ireland's international development policy. As part of this process, TI Ireland has called for greater attention to be given to the harmful affects of corruption in the developing world and for greater resources to be allocated in combatting this scourge.
Dublin, 20 May 2010 - Transparency International Ireland has cautiously welcomed Government proposals for a crack down on white-collar crime. But a spokesperson for the group has described its proposals for protecting whistleblowers as “window dressing”.
Dublin, 18 May 2010 - A study on the regulation of lobbyists examining systems in the United States, Canada, Germany and the EU institutions has been published by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The study was authored by Dr. Raj Chari, Trinity College Dublin and Dr. Gary Murphy, Dublin City University
Dublin, 1 April 2010 - Discussion on why whistleblowing is important in preventing wrongdoing, how whistleblowers are protected in Ireland and what can be done to encourage whistle
Dublin, 24 March 2010 - 1. Does anyone have to prove that a licence or contract was awarded in return for any payment or gift?
Dublin, 25 January 2010 - Anti corruption organisation Transparency International (TI) Ireland has responded to today’s Council of Europe report on corruption in Ireland by calling for the Government to introduce reforms to tackle the corruption and the sale of influence.
Dublin, 19 January 2010 - The national study is available in PDF. Please contact us if you would like us to email you a copy.
A European Commission funded study claims that the Irish Government’s approach to exposing corruption in our banks and government is deeply flawed.
Dublin, 11 September 2009 - Buswells Hotel, Kildare St, Dublin 2. 1pm, Tuesday, 19 January 2010 (This event was rescheduled from 11 January because of the bad weather)
Dublin, 8 September 2009 - The global financial crisis has hit Ireland hard and our politicians, government and banking sector have taken much of the blame. As the country’s reputation comes under threat, we ask what can be done to restore public and investor confidence in “Ireland Inc”? An expert panel from politics, business and civil society will debate how government and business can rebuild lost trust with the public and investors. Our audience will also be invited to take part in what should be a very lively but informative discussion.
Dublin, 26 May 2009 - Transparency International Ireland also calls for comprehensive whistleblower protection to stop further abuse of power
The Irish chapter of anti-corruption organisation Transparency International (TI) has called on the Government to tackle systemic corruption rather than satisfy itself with the prosecution of Frank Dunlop who was sentenced today to two years in prison and fined €30,000 on five counts of bribery.
Dublin, 10 March 2009 - Terry Prone's article can be read here
To the editor of The Sunday Times
Dear Sir,
Terry Prone’s confused opinion piece (8 March 2009) “ Crooked moves and shady deals are in Ireland’s DNA ” might have been illuminating, and a lot less confused, had she actually read the National Integrity Systems Country Study by Transparency International (TI). It’s not entirely evident from her meanderings whether she even read the accompanying press release!
Dublin, 1 February 2009 - Buswells Hotel, Molesworth St, Dublin 2, 11am to 1pm
Transparency International Ireland will launch a major report on corruption controls in Ireland on 2 March. The National Integrity System Study is the most wide ranging analysis to be ever conducted on the issue in Ireland. It examines the risk of corruption and abuse of power in government, politics, business, civil society and the media. It also looks at the role these sectors have to play in promoting integrity in public life. The study also makes some forty recommendations to tackle a problem that contributed to the world financial crisis and is believed to be costing the Irish economy an additional €3 billion each year in lost revenues and foreign investment.
Dublin, 19 September 2008 -
THE NGO Workshops (Dublin, June, July and September 2008) Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, O’Connell St, Dublin 1
With Simon Devilly, Journalist and former producer RTÉ. The second workshop on the topic of communications and corruption will benefit practitioners with an interest in the current debate around corruption in development and the developing world.
Dublin, 14 September 2008 - Seminar Room 3.19, School of Business, Trinity College Dublin
With Kulan Amin, TI’s Programme Manager on Poverty and Development. Aimed at NGO professionals and policy advisors, the purpose of the workshop is to take stock of where Civil Society has come in promoting accountability in development and aid over the past year and to discuss how Irish Civil Society build on these achievements.
Dublin, 1 July 2008 - With Simon Devilly, Journalist and former producer RTÉ.
Dublin, 1 July 2008 - TI is one of five NGOs fighting corruption in the management of the world’s most important resource.
Dublin, 13 June 2008 - Roslyn Hees, Senior Advisor at Transparency International will lead a workshop for development NGOs on the implementation of TI’s Corruption Risk Mapping Project.
Dublin, 29 May 2008 - TI Ireland and TCD School of Business are hosting three day-long anti-bribery training workshops for business this June, September 2008 and January 2009.
Dublin, 2 April 2008 - The 2008 Annual General Meeting of Transparency International Ireland will be held on Thursday 3 July from 6pm to 7pm at Buswells Hotel, Molesworth St, Dublin 2.
Dublin, 10 February 2008 - The first of four anti-corruption training workshops for non-governmental organisation.
Dublin, 15 January 2008 - The Business Workshops 9.30am to 4pm
1 July 2008
8 September 2008
6 January 2009
Dublin, 23 November 2007 - After Britain's data protection scandal, John Devitt argues the alleged misuse of personal data by civil servants here must be investigated by the Garda as well as the Data Protection Commissioner
When the winner of a €115 million EuroMillions jackpot was announced in 2005, it wasn't just the media that jumped on the story. For reasons best known to themselves, 72 civil servants trawled the records of the Department of Social and Family Affairs to find out as much they could about Dolores McNamara, a housewife from Limerick and Ireland's newest multimillionaire.
Dublin, 26 October 2007 - As the Dail debates the Taoiseach's testimony to the Mahon Tribunal, Transparency International calls on both the Government and Opposition to articulate a clear vision to fight corruption.
The 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), launched today by Transparency International (TI), shows that Ireland’s international reputation for straight dealing has been hurt by weak safeguards against corruption and Government’s reversal of important political reforms.
Dublin, 18 July 2007 - TI 2007 Progress Report on the OECD Convention shows a lot more needs to be done. Ireland regarded as having made the least progress on foreign bribery.
The Irish chapter of anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI) has welcomed a Garda investigation into allegations that three Irish companies paid illegal kickbacks to Saddam Hussein in 2001. The UN is believed to have forwarded financial records to the Gardaí related to payments made during the ‘Oil for Food programme’.
Dublin, 12 July 2007 - Safeguards against potential conflicts of interest for former State servants must be introduced urgently, argues John Devitt.
I wish Tom Parlon well in his new role as director general of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). Mr Parlon brings with him a great deal of expertise and experience gained while a government minister at the Office of Public Works.
Dublin, 11 July 2007 - An RTÉ Online news item this morning titled "Concern over Parlon's new role" stated that “A Transparency International spokesman has said that Tom Parlon should not be allowed to become Director General of the Construction Industry Federation.”
Dublin, 2 July 2007 - The third of three seminars for development agencies will focus on strengthening accountability in partner countries and opportunities for civil society to contribute to the promotion of public participation in decision making. Led by Kulan Amin, TI’s Programme Manager for Poverty and Development, the session will draw from TI’s recently published discussion paper on Poverty, Aid and Corruption which is available here.
Dublin, 28 June 2007 - Transparency International Ireland welcomes the publication of the Standards in Public Commission Report for 2006 which was released today.
Dublin, 11 June 2007 - The final workshop in the series will introduce participants from business groups and senior management to the only online anti-corruption tool available at no charge for businesses operating in countries with weak rule of law.
Dublin, 11 May 2007 - TI/TCD Breakfast Workshop
This workshop introduces board members, senior managers, professionals and business representatives to TI’s core anti-bribery programme for international business.
Dublin, 25 April 2007 - Government proposals to raise the limit at which gifts and loans to Oireachtas members should be disclosed are disproportionate and will only increase the risk of corruption in political finance and government says anti-corruption organisation Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland).
Dublin, 23 April 2007 - The second of TI Ireland's Executive Education seminars for Development Agencies will look at the prevention of corruption in humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts. The session will draw largely from TI's work with the Overseas Development Institute and the Christian Michelsen Institute on Corruption Risk Mapping for Humanitarian Assistance.
Dublin, 10 April 2007 - The OECD has published its long-awaited report on Ireland's efforts to prevent the bribery of public officials by Irish companies. It is one of the most damning the Paris think-tank has ever published, writes John Devitt
While we have made occasional attempts to come to grips with corruption at home, it now appears that Irish nationals may also been busy exporting corruption abroad. At the same time, the Irish authorities have turned a blind eye.
Dublin, 29 March 2007 - The 36-country OECD Working Group on Bribery expressed concern over Ireland’s commitment to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, notably given its poor participation in the five-day visit to Ireland by OECD examiners in October 2006.
Dublin, 10 October 2006 - Amendments to the Ethics Act are a necessity but so is the need for transparency over appointments to public bodies, writes John Devitt
The payments controversy highlights not just the need to reform the Ethics Acts. It also underscores the urgent need for greater transparency in the way appointments are made to public bodies.
As the controversy over gifts and loans to the Taoiseach moves on, more time needs be devoted by commentators and politicians on both sides of the Oireachtas to the question of how the kind of crisis we witnessed over the past weeks can be avoided in the future.
Dublin, 31 August 2006 - Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) has called on all local government representatives to decline the offer of any corporate gift or hospitality at this year’s Ryder Cup which may lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest.
Dublin, 11 June 2006 - TI/TCD Breakfast Workshop - 11 June, 7.30am to 9am
TI’s Bribe Payers Index shows that the infrastructure sector is the most vulnerable to corruption worldwide. This session introduces TI UK’s Infrastructural Programme, a core element of TI’s private sector strategy. Further information on this programme is available at www.anticorruptionforum.org.uk
Dublin, 26 May 2006 - The 2007 Annual General Meeting of Transparency International Ireland will be held on Tuesday 22 May from 6pm to 7pm at Buswells Hotel, Molesworth St, Dublin 2.
It will be followed by a presentation from John Devitt on the preliminary findings of the National Integrity System (NIS) Study.
Dublin, 17 May 2006 - Open letter to the editor of Phoenix Magazine outlining facts about Transparency International
Dear Sir,
I write to comment on your entertaining but misleading piece titled “Irish worthies soft on Wolfowitz” from 7 May 2006. As your readers may be aware Transparency International does not undertake investigations, name names or comment on individual cases. Rather, our focus is on long-term solutions addressing systemic problems in the public and private sectors. Your readers may also be aware that it is not our organisation’s policy to call for the resignation of individual public officials or representatives. Furthermore, TI Ireland does not undertake international advocacy unless it is in coordination with the Secretariat or other TI chapters.
Dublin, 13 March 2006 - Numerous tribunals, conventions, laws and institutions have been established in Ireland and around the world to fight corruption. Yet corruption is perceived to be as prevalent as ever. If this is so, then what is being done and more importantly, what more needs to be done?
An expert panel, chaired by RTE's Rodney Rice, will discuss the impact that reform has had on levels of corruption in Ireland and elsewhere during an evening seminar titled Global Corruption, Global Response on 13 March at Trinity College Dublin.
Dublin, 13 March 2006 - Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland) and the School of Business, Trinity College Dublin have announced a partnership agreement that will see the anti-corruption group establish and manage an anti-corruption resource centre at the university.
Speaking at TI Ireland’s first AGM, Dr. Gerard McHugh, Head of Trinity’s School of Business said that the two organisations would work closely together in delivering information about the causes and costs of corruption.
Dublin, 13 February 2006 - Bob Geldof and Transparency International (TI) have joined forces to ensure that development assistance reaches those in desperate need.
During a meeting with TI today, Geldof also announced that he would urge British Prime Minister Tony Blair to appoint Peter Eigen, founder and former Chair of Transparency International, to a small group of influential individuals who would take on the mantle of monitoring the G-8’s progress in fulfilling its commitments.
Dublin, 17 October 2005 - Full Irish Press Release with methodology and FAQs here
Dubin, 15 September 2005 - With ratification yesterday by Ecuador of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the first truly global tool in the fi
Dublin, 28 July 2005 - Transparency International Ireland (TI) has launched Ireland ’s first corruption news and analysis service.
Dublin, 13 January 2005 - International donors should take all possible steps to prevent corruption and diversion of aid from its intended recipients in tsunami-stricken regions in the Indian Ocean
Dublin, 8 December 2004 - The Launch of TI Ireland took place at the Law Society on 8 December 2004.
Transparency International Ireland leads the movement for public integrity in Ireland through advocacy, research, training and support for people who stand up against corruption in all its forms.
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