Reputation Matters

Every other week Ireland's credit rating is being dropped by various international agencies. Investors look upon the country with serious trepidation and Ireland's financial regulatory system is seen as a rouge pariah.

All in all, Ireland's reputation has taken an almighty beating.

The domestic effects are unfortunately all too apparent and most citizens will look upon the upcoming December budget with considerable apprehension. However, there is also another angle that is not being considered.

For years Irish non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have complemented their public campaigning work with strategic political advocacy. Illegitimate debt, the quality and quantity of overseas aid, policy conditionality, trade rules and the representation of developing countries on key international financial institutions are all issues that advocates have painstakingly grafted onto the agenda of Irish diplomats and civil servants in key departments. Although not always successful, the framing of Ireland's international voice by NGOs has at times instigated change at the international level.

But what now? Even if our diplomats are effectively influenced by the arguments of NGO policy advocates in this country, will they be in a position to bring that voice to the international stage. Is Ireland's reputation so damaged that we are facing a long period occupying the shadows and being ignored? Has a lot of great work now been undone?

Only time will tell but the difficult art of advocacy has just been made dramatically more complicated.