Ipsos MRBI Veracity Index 2021 – Who do we trust?

Who do we trust to tell the truth in 2021?  The Ipsos MRBI Veracity Index is the longest-running poll on trust in professions in Ireland, running since 2005. The latest edition, conducted via nationally representative telephone survey against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, tracked the latest movements in public trust in key professions.  

Selected highlights for 2021 include;

-    Healthcare professionals again occupy the top 3 positions with almost universal trust levels.
-    Trust in NPHET falls marginally but remains strong at 87%.
-    Authorities and policy makers see the biggest declines since 2020, with Government Ministers (31%) and politicians (24%) less trusted to tell the truth.
-    Teachers (88%), Gardai (83%) and the Clergy (56%) all show consistent trust scores. 
-    Trust in our fellow citizen (the ordinary person in the street) has risen, up 4 points to 58%.
-    Advertising executives (17%) and social media influencers (6%) receive the lowest trust scores.

Tarik Laher, Director at Ipsos MRBI said;

“As Ireland grapples with the challenges of the COVID pandemic, we continue to trust our doctors, nurses and pharmacists the most when it comes to telling us the truth, as they once again top our Veracity Index.  Seven in eight of us also trust NPHET in this regard, though political figures in particular may be disappointed to see their lower trust levels among the public falling.  While many trust scores have remined consistent since 2020, it is encouraging that the biggest increase comes in our trust for the ordinary person in the street, our fellow citizens, showing a rise of 4 points to 58%.” 

Full results are available in the infographic below, available for download.

Technical note:
Ipsos MRBI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,002 adults aged 15+ by telephone between 24th February - 7th March 2021.  Data is weighted to match the profile of the population.