Irish people view their political parties as corrupt, according to a major international anti-corruption body.
The survey of 1,000 Irish people published by Transparency International (TI) found the public regards political parties as the most corrupt of all institutions in the State.
John Devitt, Chief Executive TI Ireland
The Global Corruption Barometer measures public attitudes in 60 countries using a points system of 1-5, where five represents institutions viewed as highly corrupt. Irish parties registered a score of 3.4.
John Devitt, chief executive of TI Ireland, said one of the likely reasons for parties being viewed with suspicion was the lack of transparency over funding.
"There's no easily accessible way to see political parties audited accounts, and they are not compelled to file them either," Mr Devitt said.
Business and the legal system were seen as the next most corrupt, closely followed by the media, the TI survey said.
It also found that just under half the respondents expected corruption to worsen over the next three years - compared 32 per cent when the survey was last carried out in 2005.
Some 51 per cent said the Government was not doing enough to fight corruption, but Mr Devitt said tribunals such as Moriarty and Mahon were unfairly criticised.
"The debate around the length and cost of tribunals misses one important point: overall they are good value for money. They should be allowed to get on with their job", said Mr Devitt.
Over €2 billion in evaded tax is estimated to have been collected arising from the tribunals, the Ansbacher inquiry and Dirt inquiry, he said.
He noted the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) could reclaim over €50 million arising from what it says was a corrupt rezoning of lands at Carrickmines, Co Dublin. The matter, which arose from the investigations of the Mahon tribunal, is still subject to High Court proceedings.
Det Chief Supt John O'Mahoney, who heads Cab, says the bureau may pursue other matters arising from tribunals.
Ireland has signed up to the United Nations Treaty Against Corruption, but the Government has not enacted legislation to give it effect.
The TI survey also found that four per cent of respondents admitted to petty bribery, typically of public officials. The finding was low by international standards.