More than at any other time there exists now a need to ensure the highest standards of transparency, good governance and responsibility in politics, both at a national and local level. TDs, councillors and civil servants must be above reproach if the public are to have respect for these roles.
Yet on an all too regular basis, across all media platforms, we are made aware of scandals related to corruption, cronyism and illegality by those in positions of power. This unfortunate reality is reflected in the most recent Ipsos MRBI Trust in the Professions Survey, which shows a paltry 22% of people questioned trusted politicians.
If politicians are to rebuild public confidence, they must engage with professional ethicists to develop genuinely honest and effective policies which are open, sustainable and measurable.