Code of Ethics for Employees
- General Policy
- Objectives of the Code of Business Ethics
- Principles of the Code of Business Ethics
- Responsibility
- Review
- Guidelines regarding Gifts or Hospitality
General Policy
It is the policy of the CIE Group to maintain its high reputation for ethical behaviour and fair dealing in the conduct of its business.
In many cases decisions as to what is ethical or fair are clear cut and will be obvious to any reasonable person. In some situations, however, there may be circumstances where an element of doubt or ambiguity arises. To help in those circumstances and to protect and guide individual employees of the CIE Group, it is necessary to have a written Code of Business Ethics.
It is not possible to provide for every situation in the Code of Business Ethics. If there is doubt about the probity of any particular situation, one's superior must be consulted about that situation by the individual concerned.
Objectives of the Code of Business Ethics
The objectives of the Code of Business Ethics are:
(a) to offer guidance to CIE Group employees in their business conduct,
(b) to establish an agreed set of ethical principles,
(c) the promotion and maintenance of confidence and trust in the CIE Group; and
(d) the development and acceptance of ethical practices by the CIE Group.
The Code of Business Ethics applies to all employees of the Group. Those who are engaged in the purchasing of goods or services, the placement of contracts or the approval of payments to or by the CIE Group must have particular regard to the terms of the Code.
Principles of the Code of Business Ethics
The guiding principles of the Code of Business Ethics can be summarised under seven headings:
- Integrity,
- Confidentiality of Information,
- Legality,
- Disclosure of interest,
- Loyalty,
- Fairness and
- Consideration for Work/External Environment
Integrity
Each employee of the CIE Group is expected to observe the highest standards of honesty and integrity in all his/her business dealings.
To this end, as
an employee, one must:
- commit to compete vigorously and energetically but also ethically and honestly,
- conduct the purchasing activities of goods/services in accordance with best business practice and in accordance with the Group's procurement policy,
- to the extent that employees have an input, ensure that the Group's accounts/reports accurately reflect its business performance and are not misleading or designed to be misleading,
- refuse bribes, gifts, hospitality, benefits or offers of preferential treatment which may affect one's ability to make independent judgement, and report any such approaches in writing to one's superior,
- avoid misrepresenting one's position or being ambiguous or misleading,
- reject any business practice which might reasonably be deemed to be improper,
- avoid the use of the Group's resources or time for personal gain, for the benefit of persons/organisations unconnected with the Group or its activities or for the benefit of competitors,
- commit not to acquire information or business secrets by improper means,
- not abuse travel facilities or other privileges and
- act in a manner which is appropriate to one's position in the organisation,
- not act in a manner which could bring the reputation of CIE into disrepute.
Confidentiality of Information
The Group is not yet obliged to disclose information under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997. Any requests for information pursuant to this Act from third parties, (including the Department of Transport) must be referred to the Group Secretary or the company secretary of any of the subsidiaries who will, in turn, pass the request to the Group Secretary. Employees should also be mindful of the Group's obligations under the Data Protection Act, 1988 and any requests for or regarding information held by the Group which is subject to the provisions of that Act should also be referred, in the first instance, to the Group Secretary.
Employees of the Group must, however, support the provision of access by the Group to general information relating to the Group's activities in a way that is open and that enhances its accountability to the general public. In an effort to put this into effect, the Group publishes information on its activities and performance on its web site which is regularly updated.
Every employee in the CIE Group owes a duty of confidentiality to the Group in respect of sensitive information held by the Group. Sensitive information would include, for example, :
- any information relating to the CIE Group which is not public information,
- commercially sensitive/business information (including information relating to business policies or practices),
- any information relating to the CIE Group which is designated by it to be confidential,
- personal information and
- information received in confidence by the CIE Group.
Employees are required to ensure that any sensitive information which they obtain by reason of their employment is not mis-used, whether by suppliers, their competitors or competitors of the CIE Group. In order to protect such information employees are required to:
- ensure that such information is properly safeguarded,
- exercise due care in communicating such information,
- avoid using such information for personal gain and
- observe appropriate prior consultation procedures with third parties where, exceptionally, CIE is obliged by law or any regulatory authority, or otherwise, in the public interest, to disclose sensitive information.
Employees are reminded that the Transport (Re-Organisation of Coras Iompair Eireann) Act, 1986, includes a specific duty not to disclose confidential information unless authorised by the Board or the relevant company or by some person authorised in that behalf by the Board or the company. Confidential Information is defined in the Act as that which is expressed to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description. Breach of this statutory duty is an offence which attracts a fine on summary conviction.
Legality
In order to ensure though one's business dealings compliance by CIE with all applicable Government Guidelines, Irish and EU legislation, employees are required, to the extent that it is within their power and remit, to :
- fulfill all regulatory and supervisory obligations imposed on CIE,
- co-operate with relevant regulatory and supervisory bodies,
- avoid false, inaccurate or mis-leading entries in records,
- ensure that taxation and welfare legislation is upheld by the CIE Group,
- ensure that the Group CIE does not engage in "offensive" tax avoidance transactions (meaning transactions involving uses of the tax code for a purpose other than for which it is intended by the State (including an unintended use of a tax incentive) with a view to reducing the amount of tax to be paid by CIE or a party to a transaction in which CIE participates),
- ensure one's actions comply with relevant contractual obligations,
- encourage effective and fair competition at all times,
- comply with the Group purchasing and tendering procedures and with prescribed levels of authority for sanctioning any relevant expenditure,
- personally avoid engaging in any illegal or criminal activities (inside or outside working hours),
- comply with controls to prevent fraud including adequate controls to ensure compliance with prescribed procedures in relation to claiming expenses for business travel,
- comply with procedures relating to:
(a) post resignation / retirement from employment and
(b) appointment and/or consultancy of its CIE employees by the private sector,
in order to avoid the acceptance of positions following employment which could give rise to the potential for conflicts of interest and to confidentiality concerns and - comply with the CIE Group's policy on discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying.
Disclosure of Interests
Management and employees are not allowed to be involved in outside employment/business interests in conflict or in potential conflict with the businesses of the CIE Group. Therefore it is important that all employees of the CIE Group disclose in writing to the Company/Group Secretary, through their superiors, details of any conflict of interest which might affect their impartiality in carrying out their duties as soon as they become apparent, including:
- any interest, shareholding or possible conflict of interest an employee has with any firm or organisation from which the CIE Group purchases supplies, works or services, or through whom the CIE Group proposes to sell property or services
- any outside employment or business interests in conflict or potentially in conflict with CIE's business
- any interest of an employee's immediate family which could result in such a conflict of interest
Where a conflict of interest situation could arise for an employee, he/she must desist from dealing with the contract or situation giving rise to the conflict or potential conflict of interest, and may not attempt in any way to influence decisions on the matter.
Loyalty
Employees must:
- acknowledge the responsibility to be loyal to CIE and fully committed in all its business activities while mindful that the organisation itself must at all times take into account the interests of its shareholder and
- acknowledge the duty of all to conform to highest standards of business ethics.
Fairness
Employees must:
- comply with employment equality and equal status legislation,
- commit to fairness in all business dealings,
- value their fellow employees and
- value customers and passengers and treat all customers and passengers equally.
Consideration for Work/External Environment
Employees must:
- place highest priority on promoting and preserving their own health and safety as well as that of fellow employees, customers and other third parties with whom they come in contact in the course of their Board membership/directorship/employment,
- ensure that community concerns are fully considered and
- minimise any detrimental impact of CIE Group operations on the environment.
Responsibility
This Code of Business Ethics which incorporates the policy on disclosure of interests has been circulated to all management and employees.
Review
This Code of Business Ethics will be reviewed at least every two years.
Guidelines regarding Gifts or Hospitality
It is customary for many suppliers to offer gifts, hospitality or entertainment to named employees with whom they have contact as a result of business dealings. However employees should, subject to the procedures outlined below, avoid the giving or receiving of corporate gifts, hospitality, preferential treatment or benefits which might affect or appear to affect the ability of the donor or the recipient to make an independent judgement on business transactions.
Gifts
Employees may accept gifts from suppliers to or contractors who have worked for the CIE Group, provided:
- the gift is unsolicited,
- the gift is one of very small intrinsic value (e.g. diary, calendar, bottle of wine/spirits etc.),
- the value of such gifts accepted in a year from any one source does not exceed €120 and
- gifts with a value exceeding €65 are disclosed to that employee's immediate superior.
In all other cases, the gift should be returned to the sender, with a note advising that acceptance would be contrary to Group policy. Details of returned gifts must be notified at once to the recipient's superior.
Sponsorship requested on behalf of a club or society within the CIE Group from suppliers or contractors to CIE must not exceed €1,200 per subsidiary company in any year from such supplier or contractor unless the approval in writing of the Finance Manager/Group Chief Financial Officer is obtained.
Loyalty
HospitalityModest hospitality (including sporting events and golf outings) may be accepted, provided:
- the frequency and scale of hospitality is not more than CIE might be expected to give in return,
- the number of CIE staff availing of the hospitality is kept to a minimum and
- invitations do not include the provision of travel or overnight accommodation and availing of the hospitality does not identify the CIE Group in a public way with any particular supplier or contractor. Details of hospitality offered in this context, that has been turned down, must be notified at once to the recipient’s supervisor.
Note: Breaches of this Code of Business Ethics will be regarded as a breach of discipline and will be dealt with in accordance with the Group’s disciplinary code by the Chief Executive of the subsidiary in question.