Dr Robert Gillanders appointed to EU anti-corruption network

The European Commission has approved Dr Robert Gillanders as Ireland’s main anti-corruption expert for an EU wide network reporting to the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.

Dr Gillanders, an Assistant Professor of Economics at DCU Business School will act as the local research consultant on corruption to the European Commission and will be responsible for providing analysis on Ireland's corruption risks and anti-corruption policy and practice.

Dr Gillanders has published numerous articles on corruption and anti corruption policy and is a member of Transparency International's expert network.

His work has examined the role of gender and legitimacy in the fight against corruption as well as documenting the many costs of corruption in terms of red tape, foreign investment, and even individual mental health.

Speaking about his appointment Dr Gillanders said:

"I am delighted and honoured to take up this position. We are lucky to live in a relatively clean country but every country has corruption problems.

It is only by facing up to them and devoting adequate resources to solving them that we can move forward and prevent backsliding.

With our reliance on foreign investment, Ireland is particularly dependent on our reputation for good governance but corruption hurts more than economic growth.

It undermines the lives of people and the burden invariably falls most heavily on already vulnerable groups."