17 Actions in Towards Responsible Business, Ireland’s National Plan

17 Actions in Towards Responsible Business, Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020

ACTION
1Support and promote Government policy in areas which enrich responsible business practices.
2Collaborate with DFAT (now DFA – Department of Foreign Affairs) through the CSR Stakeholder Forum to communicate the National Plan on Business and Human Rights.
3Monitor best practice and evolving trends in CSR and benchmark activity through relevant tools and studies.
4Continue to increase awareness of CSR, its value to businesses and to society as a whole.
5Develop a CSR Award – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum.
6Develop a Work Programme to implement the actions contained throughout the Plan.
7Arrange a CSR Leaders Breakfast Forum.
8Collaborate with Chambers Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government (Now Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing) to emphasise the increased need to expand the categories in the annual Chambers CSR Awards.
9Encourage more micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to raise their competitiveness through improved CSR engagement.
10Work to increase recognition among large businesses of the value of sustainable business practices and corporate social responsibility in boosting employment, attracting and retaining talent and their impact on wider society.
11Identify and examine ways in which workplace related Government policies outlined in Action 1 can be supported and promoted through business.
12Support and promote Government policy in areas which enrich responsible business practices in the Marketplace.
13Implement National CSR Voluntary Mentorship Programme.
14Encourage businesses to report CSR activity in their Annual Reports and other publications to communicate these initiatives to their stakeholders thereby building reputation and gaining trust in the marketplace.
15Work to increase the recognition of the impact of business operations on the environment and encourage businesses to mitigate their negative impacts.
16Encourage businesses to build their CSR capacity in the Community.
17Encourage businesses to align their CSR strategy and activity to the Sustainable Development Goals.

CSR CHECK 2020

Appendix 2 Presentations to the CSR Stakeholder Forum

Over the period 2017-2020, the CSR Stakeholder Forum invited speakers to present on various themes at Forum meetings. The following sets out a list of presentations at each Forum meeting.

June 2019 (CEO Leaders’ Breakfast)

June 2020

The CEO/Leaders’ Breakfast due to take place in June 2020

The meeting consisted of two keynote speakers and two

was deferred due to COVID-19 public health restrictions.

panels. The theme of Panel 1 was CSR from a business/

organisation perspective and the theme for Panel 2 was the

February 2020

impact of CSR in Society.

· Keynote Speaker – Dr Rory Sullivan, London School

This meeting focused on the development of the National

of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Chronos

CSR Initiative for 2021 and beyond as part of the consultative

Sustainability who spoke about the importance of

process. There were a number of contributions from Forum

Environmental, Social and Governance Factors (ESG)

members on the outputs and achievement of the Forum from

to business.

2017 to 2020 and on the future direction of the CSR initiative

including the Chairperson of the CSR Stakeholder Forum,

· Panel 1 – business/organisation perspective of CSR

Chambers Ireland, IBM, Business in the Community Ireland,

·Dublin Bus – updated on their Workplace Gender

Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Department of Business,

Transition Policy

Enterprise and Innovation (now Department of Enterprise,

·Diageo – spoke about the Open Doors Initiative

Trade and Employment).

·Java Republic – talked about Sustainability in Java

November 2019

Republic

·Central Bank of Ireland spoke about Responsible Working

The theme of the meeting was Workplace CSR initiatives.

in the Central Bank of Ireland

· Department of Health updated the Forum on the Healthy

· Keynote Speaker– Tomás Sercovich, Chief Executive

Ireland Framework

Officer, Business in the Community Ireland who spoke

· Workhuman spoke about CSR initiatives in Workhuman

about ‘progressing towards meaningful CSR’

· Department of Rural and Community Development

· Panel 2 – Impact of CSR in Society

presented on the draft National Volunteering Strategy

·Food Cloud – gave an overview of the impact of food

· Laya Healthcare spoke about their work with Microsoft

donations

Ireland

·Suas – explained the impact of CSR on children’s literacy

September 2019

in Ireland and abroad

·Age Action – demonstrated the positive effect of

The theme of the meeting was Environment and Sustainability

CSR on its computer training programmes for over 55s

· Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland spoke about

·St Joseph’s Co-ed Primary School, East Wall – recalled the

Energy Efficiency Supports for Business

positive affect of literacy programmes in his school

· Transdev Ireland, spoke the Importance of Sustainability

·Transgender Equality Network Ireland –

for Business

highlighted the work of the Network in Ireland

· Chambers Ireland talked about how Chambers Ireland

is addressing sustainability

March 2019

June 2018 (CSR CEO/Leaders’ Breakfast)

The meeting themes were European Policy and CSR (Business

This theme of the breakfast was twofold – an overview of

and Human Rights and OECD Guidelines for Multinational

Agenda 2030 and highlighting various CSR initiatives in both

Enterprises) and Environmental, Social and Governance

business and social enterprises

Factors (ESG)

· Keynote Speaker – David Donoghue, former Irish

· Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (now Department

Ambassador to the UN – Development of Agenda 2030

of Foreign Affairs) updated the Forum about the

and the Sustainable Development Goals

implementation of the Business and Human Rights Plan

· Panel – Each Panellist spoke about their CSR initiative(s)

2017-2020

·Lidl Ireland

· Business in the Community Ireland gave an overview

·SOAR

of Environmental, Social and Governance factors (ESG)

·IDA Ireland

· Sustainable Nation Ireland spoke about ESG

·Earth’s Edge

from an investor and markets perspective

·3fe

· Bank of Ireland spoke about ESG from a business

perspective

·IBM

· Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (now

March 2018

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) updated

the Forum about the OECD Guidelines and the National

This meeting focused on the role of CSR Ambassadors

Contact Point

with an emphasis on SMES

· University of Limerick presented on CSR and SMEs

November 2018

· DHR Communications led an interactive session on

The meeting themes were Diversity and Inclusion and CSR

messaging for CSR Ambassadors

in the Public Sector

November 2017

· Deloitte’s Photovoice Initiative

· Not So Different, spoke about the inclusion of people

This meeting focused on the Forum’s Work Programme

with Autism Spectrum Disorder in employment

2017/2018 and Diversity and Inclusion

· Bord Bia presented on their Diversity and Inclusion

· University of Sanctuary Committee, University of Limerick

Strategy

presented on Unlocking the talent of the Refugee & Asylum

Seeker Community

· Department of Justice and Equality (now Department

of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

September 2017

updated the forum on the Migrant Integration Strategy

This meeting focused on the Indicative Baseline Study on

· Social Innovation Fund Ireland gave an overview

Corporate Social Responsibility in Ireland and Sustainability

of the work of the Social Innovation Fund

· Research Matters Ltd presented on the Indicative

· Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine spoke about

Baseline Study on Corporate Social Responsibility in Ireland

the Woodland Environmental Fund

· Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (now

· Department of Public Expenditure and Reform presented

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) spoke

on the Public and Civil Service Reform Programmes

about Electric Vehicles Grant for Business

September 2018

This meeting was primarily about the Forum’s Work

Programme for 2018/2019 and included updates on the SDGs

and sustainability.

· Department of Communications, Climate Action and

Environment (DCCAE) (now Department of Environment,

Climate and Communications (DECC)) updated the Forum

on the SDG Stakeholder Forum meetings

· Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

(now Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

presented on the CSR Stakeholder Forum’s Work

Programme 2018/2019

CSR CHECK 2020

Appendix 3 CSR Stakeholder Forum Project Teams

2017–2018: CSR Stakeholder Forum Working Groups

Figure from page 55

Figure from page 55

Figure from page 56

Figure from page 56

2018-2019: CSR Stakeholder Forum Project Teams

Project Team 1: Circular Economy · Dawn Meats (Project Lead) · Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) · Network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) · Vodafone Ireland FoundationProject Team 2: CSR and SMEs · Afanite (Project Lead) · Chambers Ireland · DHR Communications · Enterprise Ireland · IBEC · ISME · Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick · The Little Milk Company
Project Team 3: CSR in the Public Sector · Clean Technology Centre · DBEI (now DETE) · DEASP (now DSP) · DES (now DFHERIS) · Department of Health, Healthy Ireland · DJE (now DCEDIY) · DRCD · DCCAE (now DECC) · DFAT (now DFA) · Enterprise Ireland (Project Lead) · IDA Ireland · Origin Green (Bord Bia Irish Food Board) · Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)Project Team 4: Diversity and Inclusion · Dawn Meats · Deloitte (Project Lead) · DHR Communications · Grant Thornton · IBM · KPMG · Lidl Ireland · Northside Partnership
Project Team 5: Environment · Abbott Ireland · Chambers Ireland · Clean Technology Centre · Origin Green (Bord Bia Irish Food Board) · Transdev Ireland (Project Lead)Project Team 6: Environmental, Social and Governance Factors · Bank of Ireland · BITCI (Project Lead) · Danone
Project Team 7: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) · Dawn Meats · DCCAE (now DECC) · ESB (Project Lead) · EY · ICTU · Transdev Ireland

2019-2020: CSR Stakeholder Forum Project Teams

Project Team 1: CSR in the Public Sector · Clean Technology Centre · DBEI (now DETE) · DEASP (now DSP) · Department of Health, Healthy Ireland · DCCAE (now DECC) · DFAT (now DFA) · DJE (now DCEDIY) · DOT · DRCD · Enterprise Ireland · EPA · IDA · Network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) · NSAI · Origin Green (Bord Bia Irish Food Board) · SFI · Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)Project Team 2: Diversity and Inclusion · Afanite · Deloitte (Project Lead) · DCU · Grant Thornton · IBM · ISME · KPMG · Lidl Ireland · Northside Partnership
Project Team 3: Environmental, Social and Governance Factors · Abbott Ireland · Bank of Ireland (Project Lead) · BITCI · Danone · DBEI (now DETE) · Transdev IrelandProject Team 4: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) · Chambers Ireland · DCCAE (Now DECC) · ESB (Project Lead) · EY · ICTU · Transdev Ireland
Project Team 5: Sustainability · Clean Technology Centre · Origin Green (Bord Bia Irish Food Board) · SEAI · Transdev Ireland

Appendix 4 CSR Stakeholder Forum Meetings

Following the launch of the second National Plan on CSR in June 2017, the CSR Stakeholder Forum, chaired by Catherine

Heaney, held, on average, four meetings per year from 2017-2020. In addition to the Forum meetings, a number of Working

Group/Project Team meetings took place over this period.

Due to the public health restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no CSR CEO/Leaders’ Breakfast in June 2020.

The following is a list of CSR Stakeholder Forum Meetings 2017-2020.

DATEVENUEMEETING THEME
June 2020CSR CEO/Leaders’ BreakfastDue to COVID-19 public health restrictions no meeting took place
February 2020Museum of Literature Ireland, Dublin 2Development of the CSR Initiative 2021 and beyond
November 2019Abbey Theatre, Dublin 1Workplace CSR Initiatives
September 2019Deloitte Ireland, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2Environment and Sustainability
June 2019CSR CEO/Leaders’ Breakfast, Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin 8CSR from a business/ organisation perspective and the impact of CSR in Society
March 2019Bank of Ireland (House of Lords), College Green, Dublin 2European Policy and CSR and ESG
November 2018National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2Diversity and Inclusion and CSR in the Public Sector
September 2018Errigal County House Hotel, Cootehill, CavanForum’s Work Programme for 2018/2019 and updates on SDGs and sustainability
June 2018CSR CEO/Leaders’ Breakfast, Iveagh House, Dublin 2An overview of UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and highlighting various CSR initiatives in both business and social enterprises
March 2018Iveagh House, Dublin 2The role of CSR Ambassadors with an emphasis on SMEs
November 2017Hotel Doolin, Doolin, Co ClareForum’s Work Programme for 2017/2018, Diversity and Inclusion
September 2017Bank of Ireland, Mespil Road, Dublin 4Indicative Baseline Study on Corporate Social Responsibility in Ireland and Sustainability

Appendix 5 CSR Ambassador Events

In 2018, Forum members were invited to become CSR Ambassadors to communicate the value and importance of CSR

for business and society. The table below out the full list of CSR Ambassador speaking engagements during 2018/2020.

Date/OrganisationCSR Ambassador (Forum Members
September 2019
Public Sector CSR WorkshopBusiness in the Community Ireland
Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) (now Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE))
April 2019
Agri-Food Diversity & Inclusion Forum (AgDIf) Masterclass Series (Bord Bia and Aon, in association with The 30% Club)Dawn Meats
Open Doors Interdepartmental SeminarDBEI (now DETE)
March 2019
Technological University Dublin, Tallaght Campus and British Academy of Management (BAM) joint seminar on CSRDBEI (now DETE)
Transdev Ireland
Launch of Business Impact Map by Business in the Community IrelandDawn Meats
February 2019
The National Biodiversity ConferenceDawn Meats
December 2018
DBEI Lunch and Learn SessionChambers Ireland
DBEI (now DETE)
November 2018
CSR and National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA)DBEI (now DETE)
KPMG
IDA Ireland
Network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) meetingDBEI (now DETE)
Future in Food IrelandDawn Meats
October 2018
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Stakeholder Forum MeetingDBEI (now DETE)
Dawn Meats
Chambers Ireland
September 2018
DBEI (now DETE) New Ways of Working Steering GroupDBEI (now DETE)
CSR Stakeholder Forum SME Networking EventGreen Business (EPA)
Youth Work Ireland – Co-Op SeminarDBEI (now DETE)

Appendix 6 CSR Stakeholder Forum Members

CSR Stakeholder Forum Members 2020
1Abbot tIreland21IBM
2Afanite22Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
3Bank of Ireland23IDA Ireland
4Business in the Community Ireland24ISME (Irish SME Association)
5Business to Arts25Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick
6Chambers Ireland26KPMG
7Clean Technology Centre27Network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)
8Continuum Group28Lidl Ireland
9Danone29Marks & Spencer
10DCU Educational Trust30Musgrave
11Deloitte31Northside Partnership
12DHR Communications32NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland)
13Enterprise Ireland33Pramerica
14Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)34Origin Green (Bord Bia Irish Food Board)
15EY35Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
16ESB36Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
17Government of Ireland37The Little Milk Company
18Grant Thornton38Vodafone Ireland Foundation
19Hotel Doolin39Volunteer Ireland
20IBEC
Former Members 2019
1Dawn Meats
2Transdev Ireland
3Ulster Bank
Former Members 2018
1Accenture
2American Chamber of Commerce Ireland
Former Members 2017
1Etsy
2UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

Appendix 7 CSR Network Members

CSR Network Members
1.Accenture17.National Paediatric Hospital Development Board
2.Age Action18.National Women’s Council of Ireland
3.American Chamber of Commerce Ireland19.Novartis
4.Arthur Cox20.Open Doors
5.Brown Thomas Arnotts21.Rethink Ireland
6.Community Reuse Network Ireland (CRNI)22.St Joseph’s Co-Ed Primary School
7.Crosscare23.Tesco Ireland
8.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine24.Tetrarch Capital Limited
9.Diageo25.The Probation Service
10.Empower26.Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)
11.Fáilte Ireland27.UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
12.Institute of Public Administration28.Valeo Foods
13.Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission29.Value Retail Management Ireland – Kildare Village
14.Irish Prison Service30.Young Social Innovators
15.Keane McDonald31.Youth Work Ireland
16.Medical Council

Appendix 8 CSR Case Studies

The CSR Stakeholder Forum continues to identify and gather best practice case studies from Forum members

and the wider business and public sectors. CSR Case Studies are available to view at csrhub.ie/csr-case-studies.

ORGANISATIONTITLE OF CASE STUDY
1.3fe Coffee LtdEngaging with the Circular Economy (2018)
2.AfaniteCSR Programme (2019)
3.A & L GoodbodyWriter in Residence Programme (2018)
4.AccentureCorporate Citizenship Report (2019)
5.Achill Island Sea SaltSustainable Products (2018)
6.AIM2FlourishTransforming Old Peat Harvesting Site for People and Community (2017)
7.Arthur CoxHuman Rights Legislation around Immigration (2018)
8.ARUPCommunity Engagement Programme (2016)
9.B H ConsultingCSR Programme (2018)
10.Bank of IrelandWorkbench Initiative – Supporting Start-Ups (2017)
11.Bord Na MónaBack to School with the Eco Rangers Programme (2017)
12.Cisco GalwayPartnership with Age Action (2017)
13.Chambers IrelandChambers Ireland CSR Awards 2018 – SMEs (2018)
14.Danone Dairy IrelandB Corp Accreditation (2019)
15.Dawn MeatsCSR and Sustainability Strategy (2019)
16.DeloitteVolunteering Programme (2018)
17.DeloitteExploring Cultural Diversity in Partnership with Photovoice (2019)
18.DeloitteCSR Actions at Deloitte Ireland in response to the impact of COVID-19 (2020)
19.Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (now Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)Prompt Payment Code (2019)
20.Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (now Department of Social Protection)Employment and Youth Activation Charter (2019)
21.Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (now Department of foreign Affairs)Diversity and Equality Working Group (2018)
22.Department of HealthHealthy Ireland Framework (2017)
23.Department of Public Expenditure and ReformLearning & Development Strategy (2017)
24.DHR CommunicationsCSR Commitment (2019)
25.Diageo IrelandCSR Programme (2017)
26.Diageo IrelandLearning for Life Programme (2019)
27.Dublin BusWorkplace Gender Transition Policy (2019)
28.Dundalk Credit UnionCommunity Engagement Programme (2019)
29.DropboxDropbox for Good Dublin Programme (2017)
30.Enterprise IrelandDeveloping Enterprise Ireland’s CSR Statement (2019)
31.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)National Green Teams Programme (2018)
32.ESBElectricAid Initiative (2019)
33.ESBSupporting and Promoting Education Programmes (2019)
34.FreightspeedCollaboration with HSE for Sustainable Transport (2017)
35.Gas Networks IrelandPrimary school STEM Education Programmes (2019)
36.Green Business (EPA)Online Resource Efficiency Tool can save €Thousands for SMEs (2017)
37.GIY & SAP LandscapesDonation of 500 Trees for 1916 Centenary (2016)
38.Hotel DoolinGreen Team (2019)
39.IBMAddressing the SDGs through Skills Based Volunteering (2018)
40.IBMBe Equal (2019)
41.IDA IrelandDiversity and Inclusion Action Plan (2019)
42.Intel IrelandVolunteer Matching Program (2019)
43.Irish LifeIn partnership with the GAA to Promote the Healthy Club Project (2016)
44.John Craddock LimitedCSR Programme (2017)
45.Keystone ProcurementCSR Programme (2018)
46.Kilbarrack Fire StationWorld’s First Carbon Neutral Fire Station (2018)
47.KPMGBold Girl’s Initiative (2019)
48.KPMGCorporate Citizenship (2018)
49.Libraries NationwideHealthy Ireland at your local Library (2018)
50.Lidl IrelandSustainability Strategy A Betet r Tomorrow (2019)
51.Lidl IrelandAutism Awareness Initiative (2019)
52.Lidl IrelandInclusion Strategy (2019)
53.Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer’s Plan A because there is no Plan B
54.Mason Hayes & CurranSupporting Art and Education (2017)
55.Mayo County Library (Mayo County Council)In Partnership with BITCI ‘Time to Read’ CSR Literacy Programme (2019)
56.Mental Health ReformSteps into Work (2018)
57.Microsof tIrelandMicrosof tBusiness Mentoring Programme (2018)
58.Midlands ScienceIn Partnership with Bord na Móna (2018)
59.Midlands ScienceIn Partnership with Integra LifeSciences (2018)
60.MusgraveCSR Programme (2016)
61.MusgraveSupervalu and AsIam Bridge Back to School Educational Resource (2021)
62.MusgraveSupervalu, Centra and GAA: Club Together Initiative (2021)
63.NovartisCSR Actions at Novartis in response to the impact of COVID-19 (2020)
64.Open Doors InitiativeOpen Doors Initiative (2020)
65.Pramerica Systems Ireland LtdCSR Actions at Pramerica Systems Ireland Ltd in response to the impact of COVID-19 (2020)
66.Presentation College BrayEnergy Bandits (2018)
67.RTÉElimination of Single Use Plastic from Donnybrook Site (2018)
68.SAPIn Partnership with BITCI Skills @ Work Initiative (2018)
69.Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)Electric Vehicles for Business (2017)
70.SpeedpakCSR Making an Impact on Individuals (2019)
71.Tesco IrelandCSR Actions at Tesco Ireland in response to the impact of COVID-19 (2020-updated 2021)
72.Tesco IrelandLittle Helps Plan (2021)
73.The Community Reuse Network Ireland (CRNI)Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (2017)
74.The Little Milk CompanyBuilding Healthy and Sustainable Communities (2019)
75.The Q Café CompanyCSR Programme (2018)
76.Tico Mail Works LtdSupporting Work/Life Balance (2017)
77.Tico Mail Works LtdRenewable Electricity Electric Car to Work Scheme (2021)
78.Transdev IrelandCSR Strategy (2018)
79.Transparency International IrelandIntegrity at Work – Changing Atti udes towards Whistleblowing (2017)
80.Technically Write ITIn Partnership with Cork Simon and Pieta House (2019)
81.Trinity College DublinTrinity Access 21 Initiative (2017)
82.Ulster BankDo Good, Feel Good in June (2017)
83.Ulster BankSustainability in Ulster Bank (2017)
84.University of LimerickFirst National Plan to improve the Resource & Energy Efficiency of IT Equipment across Each Stage of the Product Life Cycle (2019)
85.VivaGreenInnovation in Sustainable Products (2019)
86.Vodafone Ireland FoundationISPCC Childline and Vodafone Ireland Foundation (2016)
87.Voxpro‘Voxgro’ Garden Initiative (2018)
88.Youth Work Ireland‘Work to Learn’ Work Experience Programme for Young People Facing Educational and Work Readiness Challenges (2019)
89.William FryIncognito Initiative as part of Making a Difference in the Community Activities (2018)

CSR Check 2020

A copy of this report is available on csrhub.ie

Email: csrhub@enterprise.gov.ie

Website: csrhub.ie Twitter: @CSRHubIrl

#CSRforIreland

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All paper waste was recycled, and all packaging used is recyclable

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Made in Ireland, reducing carbon footprint

An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

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