Election candidates surveyed on anti-corruption commitment

The Anti-corruption group Transparency International is to conduct a major survey of candidate and political party commitments to fight corruption and abuse of power in Irish politics.

Candidates and parties competing in the European, local and by-elections have been sent questionnaires to measure the level of political will towards tackling the problem.

Transparency International claims corruption and the abuse of power in this country costs Irish taxpayers billions of euro every year.

Candidates and parties are being asked whether they are committed to promoting greater transparency in public life and business and how they would go about tackling corruption if elected.

The questions are based on the findings of a Government-funded study published in March.

The National Integrity System Country Study found that policy-making in Ireland was vulnerable to what is known as “lawful or legal corruption”.

Local government was also found to be particularly vulnerable to fraud and corruption.

The results of the survey and answers from candidates and parties will be published on the Transparency International Ireland website on June 3.