Councillors urged to refuse Ryder hospitality

A global organisation dedicated to combating corruption in public life has called on public representatives in Ireland to refuse any corporate gift or hospitality at the Ryder Cup, which may lead to "a real or perceived conflict of interest".

The Irish branch of Transparency International made the call after it emerged that a major construction company has offered Ryder Cup tickets to some councillors of South Dublin County Council. The prestigious event takes place at the K Club in Co Kildare later this month and the coveted tickets are long sold out.

At least six of 26 councillors were offered the tickets by a representative of Menolly Homes, the company that built Ladycastle, a development in the grounds of the K Club.

John Devitt, acting chief executive of Transparency International Ireland said the personal integrity of the recipients of corporate gifts is "not in question".

"Nonetheless public perceptions, rightly or wrongly, that gifts and hospitality may influence official decisions on planning or on any other issue in the future, should be taken very seriously. This is particularly the case where gifts or hospitality are offered by private sector interests with a direct or potential stake in future decisions taken by local government."

"For three years running, political parties have been viewed as the most corrupt sector by the Irish public according to TI's Global Corruption Barometer.

"Public perceptions matter in a democracy. Public representatives (both local and national) should therefore be mindful of how their actions impact not just on their own personal reputations, but on the integrity of their office and the legitimacy and credibility of government in Ireland," a statement from the organisation said.

It noted that public tribunals into alleged corruption, gifts and payments to politicians have cost the State some €100 million since 1997.

Transparency said the tribunals had also had a "direct impact" on international perceptions on levels of corruption in Ireland.

"In 1995 Ireland was ranked the 11th least corrupt country in the world; by 2002 it had dropped to 23rd place according to TI's annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). It is no coincidence that Ireland's ranking dropped so dramatically on foot of the tribunals' findings into planning corruption over this period."