Has the undertaking adopted a transition plan for climate change mitigation? (E1-1)
What is disclosed regarding alignment with a 1.5°C global warming target and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plans.
As a signatory to the UNPRB, the Group has committed to aligning its strategy and practices with the Paris Climate Agreement. The Group's Climate Transition Plan (formerly the Group's Five Point Climate Action Plan) outlines the key role it plays in facilitating Ireland's green transition to a low-carbon economy and its efforts to reduce its own impact on the environment.
The Group Science Based Targets (SBTs) are classified as 1.5 °C aligned by the SBTi and cover Scope 1 and 2 emissions present in our operations and Scope 3 emissions in our downstream value chain.
Has the undertaking set GHG emission reduction targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions? (E1-4)
Are the targets gross targets, meaning that the undertaking shall not include GHG removals, carbon credits or avoided emissions as a means of achieving the GHG emission reduction targets.
In order to manage material climate-related IROs, the Group has set SBTi validated Scope 1, 2 and 3 targets. The base year for reduction targets is 2020.
The Group's Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are calculated on a gross-basis.
Does the undertaking disclose the polutants it emits to air, water and soil through its own operations as well as the microplastics it generates or uses? (E2-4)
Are changes over time, measurement methodologies and the processes to collect pollution-related data included in the disclosures?
Not material for the Group
Has the undertaking described the process to identify and assess actual and potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems? (E4 IRO-1)
Are own sites locations and those in the upstream and downstream value chain considered; are transition and physical risks and oportunities identified and assessed; and are affected communities consulted on shared biological resources.
Not material for the Group
Has the undertaking adopted policies to manage material impacts on own workforce, as well as associated material risks and opportunities? (S1-1)
Including specific policies aimed at the elimination of discrimination, including harassment, promoting equal opportunities and other ways to advance diversity and inclusion?
The Group’s policies create an environment that enables delivery of its people strategy whilst supporting management of its material impacts and opportunities. The Group has a number of policies set out below to support the management of its material impacts and opportunities.
The Group's Human Rights policy was approved by the Board in December 2024. The purpose of this policy is to provide information about the Group's commitments and efforts to respect human rights in all its business activities and relationships. The Group Health and Safety policy is aligned with the requirements of internationally recognised health and safety management system standard ISO 45001. The Group's I&D policy highlights the Group's commitment to promoting equal opportunities.
Has the undertaking disclosed human rights policy commitments that are relevant to value chain workers? (S2-1)
Including processes and mechanisms to monitor compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work or OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The Group has yet to establish a formal process to track the number of cases of non-respect of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that involve workers in its downstream value chain, as it develops its approach to measuring and reporting data related to this item.
The Group has yet to establish a formal process to track severe human rights issues connected with its downstream value chain workers.
Has the undertaking disclosed its processes for engaging with affected communities and their representativies about actual and potential impacts on them? (S3-2)
Including how the perspectives of affected communities inform its decisions or activities aimed at managing actual and potential impacts on communities.
The Group has not adopted a specific process to engage with affected communities in order to inform how the Group manages the material impact S3-Impact 1, nor does it have any specific channel in place for affected communities to raise concerns. However, there are a number of other processes in place which indirectly or tangentially incorporate the perspectives of affected communities in the context of managing S3-Impact 1.
Has the undertaking provided information about the management of its relationships with its suppliers and its impacts on its supply chain? (G1-2)
Including its policy to prevent late payments, specifically to SMEs; and how it takes into account social and environmental criteria for the selection of its suppliers.
The Code of Supplier Responsibility applies to all suppliers to the Group. It defines what the Group expects from them in terms of responsible business practice and behaviour, including prohibiting forced labour (slavery) and human trafficking in their supply chains, and to prohibit child labour with reference to the ILO definition. It applies together with the Group's Third-Party policy document and the Group's membership of the Financial Supplier Qualification System (FSQS).
The Group Third Party policy complements our Code of Supplier Responsibility and summarises internal Group policy statements into mandatory clear requirements that we expect Third-Party Suppliers to meet, and reflects our commitment to regulatory compliance, operational resilience, operational excellence and our shared success.
The Group Procurement policy sets out the requirements for the effective and consistent procurement of all goods and services for the Group while ensuring that consistent, transparent and fair procurement best practices are followed across the Group.
Has the undertaking disclosed the main features of its risk management and internal control system in relation to the sustainability reporting process? (GOV-5)
Including the scope, main features and components of the risk management and internal control processes and systems in relation to sustainability reporting.
The Group’s overarching risk strategy is to set and maintain the RMF. This ensures that the Group has clearly identified and classified the risks it faces, set its risk appetite through statements of risk tolerance and quantitative limits. It is through adherence with the risk policy, the Group observes these tolerances and limits as boundaries to its business strategy. Other Information The Risk Assessment Matrix is a tool used to calculate the overall risk rating based on the frequency and impact (financial loss, reputational damage etc.) of the risk occurring. The RCSA process is embedded into business processes and, as such, trigger events must be continually monitored, and the process needs to be regularly performed to ensure the RCSA outcome reflects the current risk and control environment. The Group identified the operational risks in respect of sustainability reporting, which were similar to existing risks in the Group's Annual Report. This enabled the Group to leverage the existing suite of controls around the Annual Report and have applied those controls to the CSRD disclosures where appropriate. Each risk identified has been assigned a risk rating in line with the Group's Risk Assessment Matrix.
Has the undertaking disclosed how the interests and views of its stakeholders are taken into account by the undertaking’s strategy and business model? (SBM-2)
Including a summary of its stakeholder engagement, including the key stakeholders, how engagement occurs and is organised, and how its outcome is takn into account by the undertaking.
The Group engages regularly with stakeholders through a variety of methods, including surveys, social media, meetings, working groups and more. The outcomes from engagement with different groups of stakeholders are taken into consideration in the Group's Strategy and business model. See page 197 for further details. To facilitate the Board’s understanding of the views of major shareholders, Directors receive an Investor Relations update from management at all scheduled Board meetings. See page 197 for further details. As part of the DMA, the Group undertook an extensive engagement with internal and external stakeholders.