Anti‑Corruption and Integrity Outlook 2026: Ireland
Table of contents
In Ireland, responsibilities for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of corruption are distributed across several public bodies. The Standards in Public Office Commission is responsible for issuing guidelines, providing advice, and investigating breaches of integrity standards applicable to public office holders at the central government level. The Commission also exercises oversight of political finance and lobbying activities. Ireland has an independent authority responsible for access to information, the Office of the Information Commissioner.
Ireland’s Constitution provides the regulatory framework for judicial integrity, guaranteeing judicial independence and secure tenure. The Judicial Appointments Commission, established under the Judicial Appointments Commission Act, is responsible for overseeing merit-based selection and promotion of judges. The Judicial Council, created by the Judicial Council Act, is mandated to develop and promote standards of conduct and ethics applicable to all judges.
Prosecutors, as civil servants, operate under the Ethics in Public Office Act, the Standards in Public Office Act, and the Protected Disclosures Act. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions issues professional guidance, while the Civil Service Disciplinary Code (Circular 19/2016) governs misconduct and dismissal procedures. The Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 (as amended) establishes disciplinary procedures for civil servants. The Department of Public Expenditure oversees HR policy, while disciplinary case management is decentralised across government bodies.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Data on where Ireland’s integrity system is strongest and could be most improved can be found at the link below:
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 0% of criteria on the strength of strategic framework, and 0% on practice, compared to the OECD average of 38% and 32%, respectively.
The development of a national anti-corruption strategy is currently underway in Ireland and is expected to be adopted in 2026.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 60% of criteria on lobbying regulations, and 78% of criteria on practice, compared to the OECD average of 43% and 38%, respectively.
The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 defines lobbying activities, including which actors are considered lobbyists under six definitions. The Act establishes cooling off periods for public officials leaving the public service of one year but does not establish a cooling off period for lobbyists entering public roles. The Act defines sanctions for breaches of standards for transparency and integrity in lobbying which are proportional to the severity of the offence. Any person who commits a breach is liable to a class C fine of up to €2,500 and/or a conviction on indictment to imprisonment for up to two years.
In practice, the Standards in Public Office Commission established by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, oversees transparency of lobbying as part of Ireland's central government. A 2018 Code of Conduct that regulates interactions between public officials and lobbyists is supported by eight practical examples of at-risk or undesirable behaviours and situations. Lobbyists can register online.
A register of beneficial ownership of corporate entities is not publicly available as in 2023 access has been restricted to those with a legitimate interest.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 56% of criteria on conflict-of-interest regulations, and 22% of criteria on practice, compared to the OECD average of 80% and 45%, respectively.
The Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 define certain circumstances and multiple types of relationships that can lead to conflict-of-interest situations for public officials and establishes the obligation to manage them through a statement of the nature of the interest. Both Acts require disclosure of interests and for action to be taken to manage conflicts of interest, but they do not provide a list of specific incompatibilities between public functions and private interests.
Members of the government, parliament, high-risk public employees and newly appointed or reappointed top-tier civil servants of the executive branch must submit interest declarations within 30 days after a statutory registration (reporting) date which is annual. This requirement does not extend to members of the highest bodies of the judiciary. Sanctions for breaches of conflict-of-interest provisions are defined in the Act but only for members of Parliament (Oireachtas). For other branches of state, it is a matter for the relevant public body to take such action it considers appropriate for breaches.
The Standards in Public Office Commission is the independent statutory oversight body established under the Ethics in Public Office framework. It can provide guidance to public officials and supervise compliance with ethics legislation. It receives and supervises declarations but does not verify their content or apply sanctions for breaches. The submission rate of interest/asset declarations both for members of government and parliament was 100% respectively for the past six years.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 60% of criteria on political finance regulations, and 43% of criteria on practice, compared to the OECD average of 76% and 58%, respectively.
The Electoral Act of 1997 bans contributions from foreign states or enterprises, but it does fully not ban contributions from publicly owned enterprises as donations of up to €200 are permitted. Anonymous donations under €100 are permitted. The Act sets an annual donation cap per donor of €2000 for candidates and €5000 for parties, third parties or accounting units. Electoral campaign expenses for parties and candidates are limited to a ceiling of up to €45,200. The Electoral Act also defines sanctions for breaches of political finance and election campaign regulations. Any breaches can result in a fine of up to €20,000 and/or up to 3 years in prison. This extends to electoral candidates, who can be held personally liable for breaches and be sanctioned in the same manner.
The statutorily independent Standards in Public Office Commission oversees political parties and election campaign financing.. It has certified auditors on its payroll and auditors are employed for no more than 5 days at a time to advise the Commission. The Commission does not use audit services to review donations statements or election expenses statements submitted by or on behalf of election candidates or election expenses statements submitted by national agents of political parties. The review of these statements is instead carried out by staff of the Commission Secretariat. The rate of timely submissions for annual accounts from political parties was 100% from 2019-2023 but 89% in 2024 for both the past 5 years and the previous two election cycles. Financial reports from all political parties are publicly available from a single online platform in a user-friendly format online.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 89% of criteria on public information regulations, and 69% of criteria on practice, compared to the OECD average of 72% and 62%, respectively.
The Freedom of Information Act provides that all public institutions and private persons carrying out public duties are holders of public information, and that everyone, including non-citizens and legal persons, has the right to access information in all the forms available. Legal restrictions to access public information are in line with the Tromsø Convention. Statutory deadlines for processing requests for information are in place, and information requestors are not required to provide justification for their requests. Ireland has established a defined list of datasets for proactive disclosure under S.I. 376/2021, which transposes Directive (EU) 2019/1024 into Irish law.
In practice, the Office of the Information Commissioner is responsible for public information issues with the head appointed for a fixed term of six years and only dismissible during this term in strictly defined cases. Appeals against decisions of the Office of the Information Commissioner specialised in public information are decided by the High Court. Inspections of compliance have been conducted by the Office of the Information Commissioner within the latest full calendar year but sanctions for non-compliance were not imposed as, per the Freedom of Information Act of 2014, the Information Commissioner can only apply to the court to force a body subject to FOI to comply with their decision.
Ireland proactively publishes consolidated versions of all primary laws, the state budget for the current calendar year (if already adopted) and the latest full calendar year and aggregated public tenders announced by central government.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 35% of criteria on judicial integrity regulations, and 36% on practice, compared to the OECD average of 66% and 45%, respectively.
Ireland’s Constitution guarantees judicial independence, and provides that higher court judges may only be removed for stated misbehaviour or incapacity through resolutions of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Additional constitutional provisions ensure judges hold office until mandatory retirement, term expiry, or lawful dismissal. Objective grounds for dismissal are established further in the Courts of Justice Act 1924.
The Judicial Appointments Commission Act establishes that selection and promotion should be merit-based and objective. The Judicial Appointments Commission conducts interviews for the selection and promotion of judges as well as oversees their appointment. However, the law does not establish the right for candidates to appeal appointment and promotion decisions by the Judicial Appointments Commission.
The Guidelines on Judicial Conduct and Ethics set standards of conduct. While recusal mechanisms are established, regulations do not explicitly define circumstances and relationships than can lead to conflict-of-interest situations for judges. Judges are not required to submit general interest or asset declarations.
The Courts Service Protected Disclosures Policy 2023 outlines how the Courts Service handles protected disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended) but these provisions do not cover judicial misconduct. The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner’s website contains a portal explaining whistleblowers' rights, procedures for reporting misconduct and contact details for reporting through external channels, information on procedures for reporting judicial misconduct is not available.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 59% of criteria on prosecutorial integrity regulations, and 21% on practice, compared to the OECD average of 66% and 52%, respectively.
The Civil Service Disciplinary Code establishes objective grounds for the dismissal of prosecutors. It lists examples of serious misconduct which include, corruption, violation of civil service standards, misuse of confidential information, and failure to declare a conflict of interest.
Merit-based objective procedures for the selection and promotion of prosecutors are principles based: the Code of Practice establishes best practice for recruitment, which may include interviews or job-specific tests. Provisions covering the right of candidates to appeal decisions on the selection, appointment and promotion of prosecutors are not established.
Both the Ethics in Public Office Act and the Standards in Public Office Act define the circumstances and relationships that can lead to conflict-of-interest situations for prosecutors. Additionally, the Guidelines for Prosecutors the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions establish recusal obligations. The Ethics in Public Office Act establishes a requirement for public officials (including prosecutors) to declare their interests annually. However, data was not available for submission rates in practice as this is not collected
The Protected Disclosures Act, which applies to the prosecutors service, establishes protections against retaliation for whistleblower. The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner’s website contains a portal explaining whistleblowers' rights, procedures for reporting misconduct and contact details for reporting through external channels, information on procedures for reporting prosecutorial misconduct is not available.
Note: 2025 data or latest year available.
Source: OECD Public Integrity Indicators Database (data extracted on 7 March 2026).
Ireland fulfils 42% of criteria on disciplinary system regulations, and 17% on practice, compared to the OECD average of 66% and 22%, respectively.
The Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 (as amended) establishes disciplinary procedures for civil servants. Penalties can include placing the civil servant on a lower rate of remuneration (including the withholding of an increment), reducing the civil servant to a specified lower grade or rank, or suspending the civil servant without pay. The Civil Service Disciplinary Code defines what constitutes a disciplinary offence, listing 22 items including corruption, violation of civil service standards, misuse of confidential information, failure to declare a conflict of interest and acting in a conflict-of-interest situation. Civil servants have the right to appeal but not to a judicial body.
The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Delivery are responsible for the development and revision of HR policy, including the Disciplinary Code, in the Irish Civil Service. Each central government body has its own case management system for disciplinary cases and proceedings. There is no single electronic case management system, and aggregated datasets on disciplinary measures taken against civil servants are not available.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
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The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Kosovo: This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.
The full book is available in English: OECD (2026), Anti-Corruption and Integrity Outlook 2026: Harnessing the Integrity Advantage, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/16708b78-en.
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