Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 October 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

Citizens' Attitude to Democracy and the Rule of Law: TASC

10:00 am

Mr. TiarnĂ¡n McDonough:

I just want to add a little bit to what Dr. Cohen was saying in terms of what we know, comparatively and internationally. Trust in local government tends to be low across OECD countries. It is similar in Ireland, where it is among the lowest. Trust in institutions is one of the few areas where we are below the OECD average. We tend to be about the OECD average or a little bit above and this is the one area where we are below. Ireland is very much in line with OECD averages and we know from similar data that the biggest gap between those who trust the Government and those who do not is due to whether people feel they have a voice. That is the biggest determinant.