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EirGrid

Modern Slavery Statement

The transparency measures EirGrid has taken to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking are absent from our supply chains.

Modern Slavery Act

EirGrid Group's role is to operate, develop and enhance the all-island power system and the wholesale electricity market. 

Our group is committed to all aspects of human rights. We have policies in place to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not happening in our business or supply chains. 

See our Modern Slavery Statements on the measures we have taken, in accordance with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Modern Slavery Statement 2023

Introduction

EirGrid Group’s revenue is primarily derived from regulated tariffs. The main revenue is the Transmission Use of System (TUoS) tariff. 

This is a charge payable by all users of the transmission systems in Ireland (EirGrid) and Northern Ireland (SONI Ltd.). 

The turnover from our licenced activities for the year ending 30 September 2022 was as follows:

A table showing turnover from EirGrid Group's licenced activities for the year ending 30 September 2022

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It constitutes EirGrid Group’s statement for the financial year ending 30 September 2022. This statement is made by and on behalf of EirGrid Group.

Approach

The board, the Chief Executive and the Executive Team are committed to upholding and respecting all aspects of human rights. This includes ensuring that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our business or any of our supply chains.

Our approach is as follows.

Policies

We have a range of group policies and procedures embedded within the organisation related to how we do business.

  • Our Values & Behaviours: The core values we hold as a business and the behaviours we expect all employees and contractors to portray. Our values include transparency and acting with integrity.
  • Employee and Director Codes of Conduct: Incorporate specific commitments to human rights, zero-tolerance of unethical practices within the Company and organisations we work with, and zero-tolerance of any form of bribery or corruption.
  • Protected Disclosures Policy (Whistleblowing): Encourages and sets out our expectation for employees and others to report any concerns relating to a wrongdoing in the workplace and elsewhere in relation to EirGrid’s operations. EirGrid shall not tolerate any employee being discriminated against or suffering any detriment as a result of raising a concern.

Due Diligence

  • Risk assessment review: During the year we performed a review of our key suppliers in both EirGrid and SONI Ltd. This was done by value, based on geographical area and information available on their approach to modern slavery/human trafficking. Our aim was ensure that controls are in place and understand how effective these controls are to ensure that modern slavery does not exist within EirGrid Group’s supply chain.
  • Awareness training: Developed a modern slavery awareness training module for employees.
  • Update to Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy: Incorporated Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking obligations and red flags within our Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy.
  • Group Procurement Procedures: Requires “that all suppliers who participate in a formal tender process adhere to all statutory obligations under current Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Management, Employment and Equality Legislation and the Modern Slavery Act”.
  • Supplier Terms & Conditions: Require all suppliers of goods and services to demonstrate compliance with governing laws, anti-bribery and anti-corruption regulations.

Risk Management & Review

We continue to apply the Group Risk Management Framework to identify, assess and respond to any risks associated with slavery/human trafficking. We also continue to assess risk environment to ensure our controls remain fit for purpose.

The steps for this are to:

  1. Identify risks
  2. Develop assessment criteria
  3. Assess risks
  4. Assess risk interactions
  5. Prioritise risks
  6. Risk response

Ongoing review of the application of the above policies and procedures is performed via our three lines of defence model. These are:

  • 1st line: Operational functions and support functions such as HR and Finance
  • 2nd line: Risk Management, Legal, Security, Quality Assurance, Health & Safety, Compliance
  • 3rd line: Internal audit

Continuous Improvement

We will continue to promote awareness of our responsibility through the above policies and processes, along with the provision of relevant training and guidance to our employees. We also intend to take the following steps in 2023:

  • Continue to monitor our key suppliers: Monitoring in both EirGrid and SONI Ltd to ensure that controls are in place, and understand how effective these controls are to ensure that modern slavery does not exist within EirGrid Group’s supply chain.
  • Risk-based review of key suppliers: Review a sample of key suppliers to EirGrid and SONI Ltd on their approach to modern slavery/human trafficking.

This statement was approved by Chief Executive Mark Foley (on behalf of the board), on 19 April 2023.