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IRELAND NEEDS TO do more to prosecute and punish corruption more quickly.
That’s the opinion of the European Union who also say that they have concerns about the funding of Irish political parties
The EU Commission today published its first ever report on corruption across the EU and also found that Irish people feel that corruption is more widespread in their country than the average European.
In it’s country-by-country analysis, the report states that “the Irish government has undertaken substantial reforms in its anti-corruption policies”, but highlighted some areas of concern:
However, more work could be done to improve the capacity to prosecute and punish corruption cases in a timely manner. Further work could also be required to address the few remaining concerns around the funding of political parties, election and referendum campaigns and corruption risks related to conflicts of interest at local level, as well as in the area of urban planning.
A survey undertaken as part of the report also found that 81 per cent of Irish people feel that corruption is widespread in their home country. This compares to an EU average of 75 per cent.
Instances of corruption may be less common however, with three per cent of Irish people saying they have been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year. This is slightly lower than the EU average of four per cent.
In the chapter relating to Ireland, the report also voiced a number of other specific concerns, saying that the General Scheme of the Lobbying Regulation Bill focused to a greater degree on the responsibilities of lobbyists and to a lesser extent on the public officials.
The chapter also noted the importance of the media in “exposing and following corruption allegations” and made reference to concerns about “the growing consolidation of media ownership”.
EU wide
Overall, European Anti-Corruption Report estimates that corruption costs the EU economy €120 billion each year, saying that integrity in politics also remains an issue for many EU states.
Speaking after its publication, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said that the report “gives a frank assessment of how each member state tackles corruption”.
“The report therefore calls for improvements in a number of different areas,” she added. “In some member states, vulnerability to corruption in public procurement processes is the main problem. In others, political party financing is not transparent enough.”
The report places a specific emphasis on public procurement saying that about one-fifth of the EU’s GDP is spent every year by public entities buying goods, works and services and is an area that is vulnerable to corruption.
Tackling corruption
According to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, the EU report “highlights the fact that the government needs to do a lot more tackle corruption in public life”.
He suggested:
The Government needs to take note of the findings in this EU report and act to reassure the public that political corruption, so long a feature of this state will be tackled once and for all.
He also re-emphasised Sinn Féin’s call for a banking inquiry, and said that the party is “concerned that it could be neutered by an overly strict definition of bias that would bar TDs and Senators from taking part.”
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Is there any logical reason why farming and eating dog should be illegal? The animals we normally eat (cow, sheep, goat, etc) tend to be herbivores, so are easier to farm and taste different than carnivores. But beyond that, surely if we can humanely farm and eat species X, we should be allowed to eat species Y if it is also farmed in a humane manner?
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: How many pet cows do you have? Do you take your goat for a walk everyday.
Whilst there may be some validity to your argument I think you’ll find the overwhelming majority of people actually see their pet dogs as something more, even part of the family. So the prospect of chowing down on Lassie is not very appealing to most.
@damien leen: I don’t think Koreans were eating their pet dogs though.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: have you seen the way they’re killed, thrown alive into a pot of boiling water…r u ok with that!
@Clare Power: Hot dogs? Mmmmm,I love ‘em
@Larry Betts: stop Larry, yr supposed to be the funny man here
@Clare Power: boohoo
@Tom Dillon: oh that’s alrite then… C’mon man!
@Clare Power: I hope the EU doesn’t now ban German Shepherd Pie
@Larry Betts: I said your supposed to be funny Larry!!
@Clare Power: I’m never again going to ask for a doggie bag whenever I’m in a restaurant.
I’ve no time for people that haven’t empathy for animals, there’s something missing in their soul…my opinion…
About time
No more wokking the dog, as it were…
Well done, South Korea.
Lassie ain’t coming home!
For those who can’t now eat dog,they will feast on tasty Not Poodles
Koreans have swapped dogs for babies. The population has gone through the floor. By the way dog stew or boshintang is delicious – a little like a spicy lamb stew. Why should people be forced to abandon their own foid culture? Westerners complain about migrants swamping their own culture while imposing their values and culture on Asian, African and other indigenous cultures. No one who supports the banning of dog meat in Korea should oppose the imposition of Sharia in Ireland.
Personally, I think it’s barking mad decision by the government.
Banning dog meat will only lead farmers to go underground with their business.
Instead of a regulated price for the meat, meat prices could fetch a higher price due to the ban from the dog meat ban.
Anyone for a Chinese ?
@Jb Walshe: It’s only now that I realise what the Indians put in a madras curry,omg
The way some people anthromorphosise dogs, and cats, is beyond ridiculous. If some people want to eat dogs then let them.
Wokery. Wok wokery.
It’s not the eating I have a problem with, it’s the way they are “prepared”, the wire binding the limbs and mouth, the tape to stop them screaming , it’s the skinning alive, the boiling alive, the torture to promote the myth that the meat tastes better. I, for one, am extremely happy with the ban, it should be immediate, not in 3 years. It’s not just farmed dogs, it’s the stolen pets too that are affected.
Foid=food
have your say