The Tanaiste has rejected claims that tribunals and investigations into the past undermine respect for politics, describing them as "crucial to the health of the democratic process".
In a speech to the World Forum on Democracy in Warsaw, Poland, Ms Harney said that tribunals and investigations were "throwing up unsavoury facts about `golden circles' operating at the nexus between business and politics".
She said some had suggested that these investigations undermined respect for the democratic process, but she rejected this. They were crucial "not just because they will expose individual wrongdoers but because they will show the type of reform necessary to prevent further abuses in the future".
Ms Harney said opinion polls had shown an increasing cynicism about politics. "How often do we hear the public refer to politicians saying `They are all the same', `They are only in it for themselves' or `They don't care about ordinary people'?" she asked.
The major challenge for democratic political parties arose from the fact that there was a basis for such cynicism "and unless we deal with, and are seen to deal with, its root cause then we endanger liberal democracy not just where it has recently taken hold but in countries where apparently it is well established".
Competition between and within parties and the opening of politicians to public scrutiny were necessary, she said. "We need effective mechanisms that will ensure wrongdoing is identified and eliminated before it can take root.
"And we must ensure that while we respect the democratic wishes of the electorate we seek to minimise the chances of any person or group of people having a permanent lock on power."