Ireland one of least corrupt nations

IRELAND is regarded as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, according to a major international report published yesterday.

The United Nations report, which ranks countries under categories such as health and education, says Ireland is seen as less corrupt than the industrial superpowers such as the US, Japan, Germany and France.

The report, based on surveys and the perceptions of business people and risk analysts, says Scandinavian countries are the least corrupt, while Ireland ranks in 13th place out of 173 countries surveyed.

"It is an issue but it certainly doesn't appear to be a significant one, given the level of development in the country," senior UN development official Sally Fegan said.

Its findings contrast a report commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Trust earlier this year which concluded that corruption was driving investment out of the country.

The focus of the latest report, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme, ranks countries according to their level of human development.

Ireland ranks in 18th place overall, the same position as last year, and Norway tops the group, while Sierra Leone comes in last place.

This year's report also stresses that empowering people to influence decisions that affect their lives and hold their rulers accountable is a long-term process.

Ms Fegan said the Western World had a responsibility not to exceed the expectations of emerging democracies by promising overnight change.

"We in the Western World have tended to persuade countries to become democracies with the promise that things will change overnight," she said.

"They don't we have to be more careful and responsible in the way we lend our support."

She said the process involved the development of democratic institutions such as an effective judicial system and free media.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Junior Minister Tom Kitt, who is responsible for development issues, said he was committed to increasing Irish involvement in the area through the State-funded Ireland Aid organisation.

Mr Kitt said he wanted to use private sector expertise, especially in the areas of information technology, to help combat poverty and fight the scourge of the HIV virus.