Apathy on dishonesty is a threat to society

THE publication of the report by consultants Deloitte into how the Olympic Council of Ireland goes about its business sadly means the sports body can be added to a depressingly long list of institutions that, after being investigated by an independent agency, have been found to be, if not dysfunctional, then pretty close to that sorry state of disarray.

Just as the once unassailable Catholic Church, most of our banks, our financial regulatory authorities, captains of industry, too many charities, some professional bodies too, An Garda Síochána — a serial offender drowning in a culture of denial — and our battered and bruised health service, the IOC has not passed muster.

Our environmental watchdog agencies may fall into that orbit too. Our fractured, weakened Government — our political system — may have been pushed into that category too by the inconclusive result of the last general election. During and before the boom many local authorities stretched the principles of responsible planning and rezoning beyond breaking point.