Our Code of Business Conduct for staff and directors of the Marine Institute is described below.
Staff Code of Conduct
Integrity
- The management and employees should not be allowed to be involved in outside employment/business interests in conflict or in potential conflict with the business of the body;
- They should 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 independent judgement on business transactions.
- Business gifts other than items of very small intrinsic value, such as business diaries or calendars, should not be accepted.
- They will commit to compete vigorously and energetically but also ethically and honestly;
- The conduct of purchasing activities of goods/services is in accordance with best business practice;
- They will ensure that the body's accounts/reports accurately reflect their business performance and are not misleading or designed to be misleading;
- They will avoid the use of the State body's resources or time for personal gain, for the benefit of persons/organisations unconnected with the body or its activities or for the benefit of competitors;
- They commit not to acquire information or business secrets by improper means.
Information
- The Board of Directors supports the management and employees of the Marine Institute in the provision of access to general information relating Marine Institute activities in a way that is open and enhances its accountability to the general public, while respecting the confidentiality of sensitive information held by the Marine Institute. This would constitute material such as commercially sensitive information including future plans or details of major organisational or other changes personal information information received in confidence by the public body.
- The management and staff will observe appropriate prior consultation procedures with third parties where, exceptionally, it is proposed to release sensitive information in the public interest.
- They will comply with relevant statutory provisions (e.g. data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information Act, 1997).
Obligations
- The management and staff will fulfil all regulatory and statutory obligations imposed on the Marine Institute
- They will comply with detailed tendering and purchasing procedures, as well as complying with prescribed levels of authority for sanctioning any relevant expenditure
- They will work with the Board Audit Committee in implementing adequate controls to ensure compliance with best practices in financial procedures and reporting. Loyalty
- The management and staff acknowledge the responsibility to be loyal to the Marine Institute and will be fully committed to its activities while acknowledging the requirement to conform to highest standards of business ethics.
Fairness
- The Institute and its staff undertakes to comply with employment equality and equal status legislation.
- They commit to fairness in all business dealings.
- They will value customers and treat all customers equally.
Work Environment
- The Institute places the highest priority on promoting and preserving the health and safety of employees
Directors' Code of Conduct
Integrity
- The Directors will disclose any outside employment/business interests in conflict or in potential conflict with the business of the Marine Institute.
- They will 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 independent judgement on Marine Institute transactions.
- Business gifts other than items of very small intrinsic value, such as business diaries or calendars, should not be accepted. They commit to compete vigorously and energetically but also ethically and honestly.
- They will ensure that the conduct of purchasing activities of goods/services in accordance with best business practice.
- They will ensure that the body's accounts/reports accurately reflect their business performance and are not misleading or designed to be misleading.
- They will avoid the use of the Marine Institute's resources or time for personal gain, for the benefit of persons/organisations unconnected with the body or its activities or for the benefit of competitors.
- They commit not to acquire information or business secrets by improper means. Information.
- The Directors support the management and employees of the Marine Institute in the provision of access to general information relating Marine Institute activities in a way that is open and enhances its accountability to the general public, while respecting the confidentiality of sensitive information held by the Marine Institute. This would constitute material such as commercially sensitive information including future plans or details of major organisational or other changes personal information information received in confidence by the public body.
- They have instructed the staff of the Marine Institute to comply in full with relevant statutory provisions (e.g. data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information Act, 1997).
Obligations
- They will ensure the fulfilment of all regulatory and statutory obligations imposed on the Marine Institute.
- They have tasked the Board Audit Committee to ensure adequate controls to ensure compliance with best practices in financial procedures and reporting.
- Directors will use their reasonable endeavours to attend all Board meetings.
Loyalty
- The Directors acknowledge the responsibility to be loyal to the Marine Institute and will be fully committed to its activities while acknowledging the duty of all Board Members to conform to highest standards of business ethics.
Fairness
- The Directors undertake to ensure the Institute complies with employment equality and equal status legislation; that it commits to fairness in all business dealings; and that it values customers and treat all customers equally.
Work Environment
- The Directors place the highest priority on promoting and preserving the health and safety of employees