Public trust in healthcare professionals continues to rate highest, with trust levels declining for many others.

Trust continues to be critically important in Ireland. But who do the Irish public trust to tell the truth? 

The Ipsos Veracity Index is the longest-running poll on trust in professions in Ireland, first measured in 2005. The 2024 edition, conducted via nationally representative telephone survey, tracked the latest movements in pubic trust in key professionals.

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2024 INCLUDE:

  • Healthcare professionals are again the three most trusted professions, with Nurses (97%), Local Pharmacists (96%) and Doctors (94%) leading the way.
  • Trust in Teachers (91%, +3 points) and Gardai (82%, +5 points) has increased since last year.
  • Public trust in Bankers (45%, +4 points) continues to recover, up 18 points over a five-year period.
  • 58% of us trust our fellow citizen; however, this is down 9 points, perhaps a broader reflection of recent societal unrest on key issues.
  • Declines are seen in the trust levels for Scientists (81%, -3 points), Weather Forecasters (72%, -9 points) and Pollsters (51%, -6 points).
  • Our trust in Clergy/Priests is at 57%, down 4 points.
  • Trust scores for EU Leaders (41%, -10 points) and Landlords (32%, -7%) show significant falls since 2023.
  • Trust in Government Ministers (35%, -1 points) and Politicians (27%, no change) remains static.
  • Our trust in Artificial Intelligence, measured for the first time in this survey, is low at 24%.
  • Social Media Influencers (6%, -5 points) receive the lowest trust score.

Tarik Laher, Director at Ipsos B&A said;

“The Irish public continues to trust our nurses, pharmacists and doctors the most when it comes to telling us the truth, as healthcare professionals continue to top the Ipsos B&A Veracity Index. 

Overall, we retain our faith in many professions, with teachers and the Gardai showing high levels of trust and positive increases this year.

Our trust in Government Ministers and politicians shows little change, though trust in EU leaders has significantly declined since last year.

Those who are in the business of modelling and predictions fare less well this year, with declines in trust levels for scientists, weather forecasters and pollsters. These declines are perhaps not surprising given the volume of statistics over the last year.

Trust in our fellow citizen is down. Less than one in four of us trust artificial intelligence, while social media influencers have the lowest trust score overall. We remain a nation of sceptics across many quarters.” 

DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE GRAPHIC

Technical note:

Ipsos B&A interviewed a representative quota-controlled sample of 710 adults aged 16+ by telephone between 6th– 21st June 2024.  Data is weighted to match the profile of the population.

For further details on this report, please contact Tarik Laher, Director, Ipsos B&A: tarik.laher@ipsos.com