WHISTLEBLOWERS

It ain't easy being a whistleblower, but the least the State should do is protect those who are properly motivated. Transparency International have raised the issue today as Ireland improves its ranking on the international corruption index to 14th. That ranking says a lot about the rest of the world's 180 countries. Also, author Andrew Sweeney in his book Banana Republic suggests that whistleblowers should be rewarded with 10 per cent of the cash saved in any abuse of a government contract. Last week a case in the Commercial Court highlighted how the whistleblower can end up at the wrong end of the stick. The solicitor who called foul in the firm of fugitive lawyer Michael Lynn is at the centre of accusations by Lynn's insurers trying to avoid liability for the mess he created. The thanks you get...

OLAF and fraud

THE European Union's anti fraud office OLAF released its annual report for 2008 today. It mentions that it recovered €430 million of EU cash while it cost €53 million to operate the service. Sounds like good work.

CORRUPTION in Ireland

For years in Ireland it was accepted that some politicians had taken cash to re-zone development land. This week a former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop was jailed for 18 months for being the bagman during the 1990s. He admitted to bribing eight politicians. Dunlop arrived to court in Mercedes but left in a prison van. The reality, however, is that Ireland is pretty good compared to other countries when it comes to corruption. That doesn't mean it doesn't exists all the same.
The Irish chapter of Transparency International released figures this week which show that perception of corruption in Ireland has started to improve since hitting a low in 2002. Dunlop's revelations came in 2000 during a tribunal into payments to politicians. Ireland's ranking in terms of the international league table went from 11th in 1995 to to 23rd in 2002. Now we're back to 16th. Top is Denmark and in last place at 180th is Somalia. Jailing Dunlop should no doubt improve Ireland's ranking.