Report finds corruption still widespread in Europe

Close to two thirds of businesses believe they need to bribe and use connections to get the public services they need to do business in Ireland, while the vast majority of citizens believe corruption is widespread in the country.

Corruption is widespread also when it comes to companies winning contracts from national, regional and local authorities and more than a quarter of businesses say that corruption had prevented them winning a public tender contract in Ireland.

But despite these figures, the country is among the least corrupt when people are asked for their first hand experience with just 3% saying they had been asked for a bribe, while only 16% of businesses say that corruption is an obstacle to doing business in the country.