Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept whereby businesses and other organisations integrate their social and environmental responsibilities into their mainstream business operations, and business decisions are made with reference to wider sustainability issues.
National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) VIDEO
In 2017, Ireland published its second national plan on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Towards Responsible Business: Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020 .
The National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility sets out a vision that “Ireland will be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for responsible and sustainable business practice through the adoption and implementation of best practice in CSR in enterprises and organisations.”
The second National Plan on CSR was produced in consultation with the CSR Stakeholder Forum and in line with EU and international best practice CSR policy.
The Plan contains 17 actions which will be overseen by the CSR Stakeholder Forum. The Plan will be further strengthened by a Work Programme which will be updated over time, as actions are delivered and new opportunities present themselves, to ensure the Plan remains relevant.
A key driver of our National Plan is the impact CSR can have as a lever for improving competitiveness and as a means to reduce costs and create new value. However the Plan also recognises the importance of CSR for enterprise and for the communities in which we live. We recognise the value of sustainable business practices in boosting employment, fostering social justice and protecting the environment.
The Plan contains an appendix of supports available to companies to develop CSR such as those available from a number of business representative bodies, networks and specialists including Business in the Community Ireland and Chambers Ireland .
CSR Check 2020 The CSR Check 2020 is the third and final Progress Report on Towards Responsible Business Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020.
CSR Check 2019 The CSR Check 2019 is the second Progress Report on Towards Responsible Business Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020.
CSR Check 2018 This first CSR Check prepared by the Department on behalf of the CSR Stakeholder Forum was launched on 28 June 2018.
CSR Stakeholder Forum A CSR Stakeholder Forum was established in June 2014 to drive the objectives of the first National Plan on CSR 2014-2016. The Forum is made of representatives from the private sector, government departments, academia and other relevant public bodies. Members of the Forum implemented a Work Programme of actions set out in the second National Plan on CSR 2017-2020. The Work Programme is delivered through a series of specialised working groups formed by the Forum.
Online resources The CSR Stakeholder Forum and the Department have developed online resources to help businesses in Ireland learn more about sustainable and responsible business practices.
CSRHub.ie provides information on corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. The @CSRHubIrl twitter account shares CSR related news stories and information on best practice in CSR.