Politicians warned on Ryder Cup ‘freebies’

POLITICIANS should reject offers by companies of free tickets and hospitality at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, an anti-corruption body has said.

Transparency Ireland called on public representatives “to decline the offer of any corporate gift or hospitality which may lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest”.

It emerged this week that one of the country’s largest developers, Menolly Homes, had offered free tickets to the K Club event to some members of South Dublin County Council.

At least one councillor, Fianna Fáil’s Maire Ardagh, indicated her intention to accept the offer.

But Transparency Ireland — the Irish arm of Transparency International, a non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption in public and corporate life — warned that public representatives should avoid any suspicion of conflict of interest.

“The personal integrity of the recipients of corporate gifts is not in question,” the organisation said in a statement. “Nonetheless public perceptions, rightly or wrongly, that gifts and hospitality may influence official decisions on planning, or on any other issue in the future, should be taken very seriously.

“This is particularly the case where gifts or hospitality are offered by private sector interests with a direct or potential stake in future decisions taken by local government.”