WORLDWIDE SURVEY:Ireland ranks as the 17th least corrupt country in a global survey of perceived corruption levels, but its individual score has declined since 1995.
Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of domestic corruption. It marks countries on a scale from zero to 10, with zero indicating high levels of perceived corruption.
Ireland scored 7.5 on this year's index, improving its position slightly by allowing it to move up one place from 18th least corrupt country in 2006.
John Devitt, chief executive of Transparency International Ireland, said this year's result demonstrated the country's falling ratings since 1995, when ethics legislation was first introduced. At that time Ireland was ranked 11th least corrupt country of 41 surveyed, with a score of 8.57.
According to the anti-corruption organisation, Irish businesses are believed to lose about €2 billion a year as a result of graft.
"The new Government has to take greater responsibility for Ireland's image abroad - if only for the effect our country's reputation has on inward investment and our economy," Mr Devitt said.
"The best way to do this is by showing the world that we have learned from the past. Unfortunately, recent history shows we haven't learned enough."
He noted that earlier this year the Government trebled the value of loans or gifts that politicians could accept without publicly declaring them. Only donations in excess of €5,079 to parties and €635 to candidates must now be declared to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
A forthcoming report by Transparency International will show that the financing of political parties and local government remain wide open to abuse and fraud, he added.
The organisation has called on the Government to ratify the UN convention against corruption in light of the survey's findings.
Somalia and Burma tied with this year's lowest score of 1.4. At the other end of the scale, Denmark improved its rating, sharing the highest score of 9.4 with Finland and New Zealand.
Transparency International said a strong correlation between corruption and poverty continues to be evident, pointing out that 40 per cent of those scoring below three, indicating rampant corruption, are classed as low-income countries by the World Bank.
The organisation welcomed the fact that scores were significantly higher in several African countries including Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.