PLATFORM: We must demand greater accountability from politicians, regulators and business, writes Margaret E Ward
PICTURE THE scene: greedy executives, shady solicitors, lying politicians, child- abusing priests, cover-ups, fraud and lots of brown envelopes. It sounds like an episode of US cops and corruption show The Wire, but it's actually the horrifying reality show known as Noughties Ireland.
The first series of Noughties Ireland in 2007 delivered scheming property developers and government officials happy to look the other way. Series two featured a shamed taoiseach, several dodgy solicitors, the Fás scandal and questionable banking practices. This year's series sees paedophile priests and bishops who damn children to a lifelong personal hell.
Fraud is also likely to make an appearance this year. Paddy Power is taking bets on which Irish sector will be charged with the biggest fraud in 2009. The odds favour banking, property and the legal sector, with telecoms and State/semi-State bodies next in line.
The fallout from this reality show is slowly creeping into hardworking people's lives. It will take their pensions, life savings and hope for a dignified future. The shameful behaviour of others will bring the hardship of the dole and house repossession on ordinary people. These are the lives broken by our collective greed. Shame on us all.
The 10-year gluttonfest that found nearly every face deep in the swill trough is over. Now we're left with dirt on our faces - and souls - and a big mess to clean up.
Internationally, our credibility is ruined. Last Sunday, the New York Times ran a front-page story, "The Irish Economy's Rise was Steep, and the Fall was Fast". The article is a damning indictment of our crude behaviour in business and towards one another over the past decade.
Transparency International, the independent global anti-corruption organisation, believes the damage done by the Government, regulators and the banks to Ireland's reputation for fair play will be long lasting.
John Devitt, spokesman for the organisation, says if we want to avoid being branded the "Wild West of European finance", things have to change. "The system of political donations and gifts to politicians needs to be tightened, appointments to State bodies need to be scrutinised by the Oireachtas, whistleblowers need to be protected in the private sector and Freedom of Information fees need to be lowered so that journalists can better expose the relationships between business and government."
In 2004, before the recent scandals, a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey found that Ireland did a lot worse on its legal corruption index than some developing countries, including Ghana and Malaysia.
"The WEF survey and business scandals highlight a major weakness in our regulatory system. We need to see existing regulation enforced. The financial regulator and the gardaí have clearly not been doing their jobs," says Devitt.
Things must change. Community organisers such as the late Tony Gregory, Barack Obama and the inspirational Fr Michael Mernagh have already felt the new tide's strong pull.
People are fed up and angry. They are starting to organise a new way of doing things. Fr Mernagh walked from Cobh to Dublin to atone for 20 years of listening to rumours and stories of child rape and sexual abuse and doing nothing about it. He is taking a stand.
Young politicians are listening too. Dublin man Ross O'Mullane believes the public should decide the way things are run. He is running independently for Dáil Éireann in the Dublin South byelection.
His website, www.unitedminds.ie, proposes a new system of representation in government where individuals use an online forum to debate all issues relating to their lives. If elected, Mullane promises to use opinions on the website to ensure the public has a much louder voice on key issues.
Businesspeople need to take a stand too. It's time to get a conscience and get organised. We can spend the recession backstabbing, lying and stealing clients, or we can work together to ensure Ireland is the best place in the world to do business.
Demand accountability. Demand regulations that apply to all. Demand transparency in government. Demand a better way of doing business and demand it of yourself too.
Margaret E Ward is a journalist and managing director of Clear Ink
