TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY STUDY
with less than 250 staff.374 All three undertake research, provide training for their members, and lobby Government on their behalf. Other significant groups representing specific industry sectors include the Construction Industry Federation, the Irish Bankers Federation, the Irish Exporters Association and the Irish Farmers Association. Ireland also has a large trade union base with the biggest being the Irish Congress of Trade Unions representing 770,000 members.375 The relationship amongst these organisations, Government and civil society, otherwise referred to as the “Social Partners”, is noteworthy for the level of consensus arrived at on pay terms, work conditions, and social and economic policy. Since 1987 six national agreements have been agreed and the resulting industrial relations stability is seen as having contributed greatly to Ireland’s economic prosperity.376 The Social Partnership process has been the subject of some criticism by media and politicians. Much of the criticism has focussed on the way in which a significant element of national economic policy is effectively decided upon outside the Oireachtas.
Corporate Ethics Index 2004377 found that only 43 per cent of Irish business leaders believed that the private sector does not have undue influence over the political process – this finding places Ireland behind some developing countries including Botswana, Ghana, and Malaysia. Influence can be brought to bear by business organisations, individual businesses and trade unions through political donations, the Social Partnership process, professional lobbying on legislation, board membership of Public Bodies, and more informally through social networks. While controls and limits have been placed on the levels and sources of political finance, political parties are believed to still receive a significant proportion of their income from Irish business. It is not clear what percentage of overall income this represents since political parties and candidates are only required to disclose sources of income over €5,078.95 and €635 respectively.
Business is seen as particularly close to political life in Ireland. The World Bank Institute’s 374 Interview with authors, 2008 375 www.ictu.ie 376 www.taoiseach.gov.ie
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377 Kaufmann, 2004