Legal Requirements

1. Introduction

   1.1       At ifac, we are committed to preventing acts of modern slavery and human trafficking from occurring within our business and supply chain and impose the same standards on our suppliers.

   1.2       This statement sets out the actions that we have taken to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to our business, and to implement steps to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking occurring during the financial year ending 2021

2. Structure of the organisation

   2.1       Ifac is incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Ireland, Industrial and Provident Society registration number 3528R, whose registered office address is at Danville Business Park, Ring Road, Danville, Kilkenny.  Ifac is the brand name under which Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative Society Limited and its subsidiaries operate and provide professional services.  Each of its subsidiaries is a separate legal entity and together they form ifac.

   2.2       Founded in 1975, ifac is Ireland’s farming, food, and agri-business specialist professional service firm. We are an award-winning employer and one of Ireland’s Top Ten Accountancy Firms operating from more than 30 locations nationwide.

3. Policies

   3.1       As part of our commitment to combating modern slavery and human trafficking, we have implemented the following policies:

   3.1.1     Whistleblowing Policy – we encourage all employees, contractors, clients and suppliers to report any suspicion of slavery or human trafficking.

   3.1.2     Code of Conduct – our code clearly states the actions and behaviour expected of our employees and contractors when representing ifac.

   3.1.3     Purchasing Code – we have updated our Purchasing Code and our supplier contracts shall make explicit reference to slavery and human trafficking.

4. Due diligence

   4.1       As part of our efforts to monitor and reduce the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking occurring within our supply chains, we have adopted the following due diligence procedure during onboarding and for existing suppliers at regular intervals. This includes:

   4.1.2     Ensuring that our suppliers have a modern slavery statement.

   4.2.       Our procedures are designed to:

   4.2.1        Establish and assess areas of potential risk in our business and supply chains.

   4.2.2        Monitor potential risk areas in our business and supply chains.

   4.2.3        Reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our business and supply chains.

   4.2.4     Provide adequate protection for whistle-blowers.

5. Risk and compliance

   Ifac regularly evaluates the nature and extent of its exposure to the risk of modern slavery occurring in its supply chain.

   We do not consider that we operate in high-risk sectors or locations.

   We ensure all our suppliers adhere to our anti-slavery policy. We enforce a strict code of compliance and do not tolerate modern slavery and human trafficking within our supply chain. For example, if we find evidence of a failure to comply with our policies, we will immediately seek to terminate our relationship with the relevant supplier.

6. Further actions and sign off

   Over the course of the next financial year, we will continue to raise awareness and understanding the risk of modern day slavery within our organisation and enhance our procedures to help us identify, prevent and mitigate any risks of modern slavery or human trafficking in relation to new and existing suppliers.

   During the financial year ended 31st December 2020, ifac did not receive any reports related to knowledge or suspicion of slavery or human trafficking.

   This statement was approved by Chief Executive Officer.

At ifac, we are fully committed to fulfilling our obligations under the Criminal Justice Act (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment Act) 2010 to 2021. Our policies, procedures and training programmes are designed to ensure full compliance with the legislation.

AML designates accountants, auditors and tax advisors as designated persons for the purposes of the Act. The legislation requires professional service firms to implement certain procedures to establish client identity and imposes reporting obligations in respect of suspicions regarding offences under the legislation.

Accountants, auditors and tax advisors are required to, conduct client risk assessments, verify the identity of clients and report any suspicious transactions.  

 Client due diligence includes:

i)                 Verifying the identity of new clients.

ii)                Retaining records of identification for at least five years from the date of last doing business.

iii)              Retaining original documentation relating to transactions for a period of at least five years following the execution of the transaction.

iv)              Establishing measures to prevent and detect money laundering.

v)                Reporting suspicions of money laundering to the Garda Siochana and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

vi)              Establishing procedures to ensure all transactions connected with certain designated states and territorial units are reported.

vii)             Ensuring adequate control over client monies.

We may decline an engagement if we are unable to verify the identity of clients or if we have any concerns.

1. Introduction

   1.1 At ifac, we are committed to the highest standards of integrity.  We conduct and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption.

   1.2 This policy applies to all our employees and independent contractors.

   1.3 Bribery and corruption remain major issues in world trade, despite the many dedicated efforts to prevent them. They are very damaging to the societies in which they occur. They:

   1.3.1 divert money and other resources from those who need them most;

   1.3.2 hinder economic and social development;

   1.3.3 damage firms, not least by increasing the cost of goods and services.

   1.4 Our legal obligations are primarily governed by the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.

   1.5 We run our organisation with integrity and in an honest and ethical manner. All of us must work together to ensure it remains untainted by bribery or corruption.

   1.6 This policy is a crucial element of that effort. It has the full support of our Senior Management team. It sets out the steps all of us must take to prevent bribery and corruption in our firm and to comply with relevant legislation.

2. What are bribery and corruption?

   2.1 Corruption is the misuse of office or power for private gain.

   2.2 Bribery is a form of corruption. It includes offering, promising, giving, accepting, or seeking a bribe.

   2.3 A bribe is a financial or other advantage, promised, requested, or given to induce a person to perform a relevant function or activity improperly or to reward them for doing so.

   2.4 In practical terms, a financial or other advantage is likely to include cash or cash equivalent, gifts, meals, entertainment, services, loans, preferential treatment, discounts, or anything else of value.

   2.5 The timing of the bribe is irrelevant, and payments made after the relevant event will still be caught, as will bribes that are given or received unknowingly.

   2.6 It is not necessary for the individual or organisation actually to receive any benefit as a result of the bribe.

   2.7 All forms of bribery and corruption are strictly prohibited.

   2.8 This means that you must not:

   2.8.1 give or offer any payment, gift, hospitality or other benefit in the expectation that a firm advantage will be received, or to reward any firm received;

   2.8.2 accept any offer from a third-party that you know or suspect is made with the expectation that we will provide a firm advantage for them or anyone else;

   2.8.3 give or offer any payment to a government official in any country to facilitate or speed up a routine or necessary procedure.

   2.9 No person must threaten or retaliate against another person who has refused to offer or accept a bribe or who has refused to offer or accept a bribe or who has raised concerns about possible bribery or corruption.

3. Who can be involved in bribery and in what circumstances?

   3.1 Bribery and corruption may be committed by our:

   3.1.1 employees, directors, contractors or anyone they authorise to do things on our behalf;

   3.1.2 representatives and other third parties who act on our behalf;

   3.1.3 suppliers;

   3.1.4 clients (because they might try to induce one of our people to give them more favourable terms);

   3.2 Bribery can occur in both the public and private sectors. The person receiving the bribe is usually in a position to influence the award or the progress of the organisation, sometimes a government or other public official.

4. The legal position on bribery

   4.1 Bribery and corruption are criminal offences. It is illegal:

   4.1.1 to pay or offer to pay a bribe;

   4.1.2  to receive or agree to receive a bribe;

   4.1.3 to bribe a foreign public official.

   4.2 A commercial organisation can also commit an offence if a person associated with it bribes another person intending to obtain or retain an advantage for the organisation.

   4.3 It does not matter whether the bribery or corruption occurs in Ireland or abroad. An act of bribery or corruption committed abroad may well result in a prosecution in Ireland. Nor does it matter whether the act is done directly or indirectly.

5. Our position on bribery

   5.1 Our position is simple: we conduct our firm to the highest legal and ethical standards. We will not be party to corruption or bribery in any form. Such acts would damage our reputation and expose us, and our employees and representatives, to the risk of regulatory action, fines and imprisonment. We take a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption by our people and our third-party representatives.

6. What are indicators of corruption and bribery?

   6.1 Common indicators of bribery and corruption include those listed below. There may well be others:

   6.1.1 payments are for abnormal amounts or purposes (e.g. commission), or made in an unusual way, e.g. what would normally be a single payment is made in stages, through a bank account never previously used, or in a currency or via a country that has no connection with the transaction;

   6.1.2 process is bypassed for approval or sign-off of terms or other commercial matters or we are prevented from or hindered in monitoring commercial processes;

   6.1.3 individuals are secretive about certain matters or relationships and/or insist on dealing with them personally; they may make trips at short notice without explanation, or have a more lavish lifestyle than expected;

   6.1.4 decisions are taken for which there is no clear rationale;

   6.1.5 records are incomplete or missing.

   Who is responsible for this policy?

   6.2 The Chief Executive Officer has overall responsibility for this policy and is responsible for ensuring this policy is adhered to by all employees and independent contractors.

7. Your responsibilities

   7.1.1 reading and being aware of the contents of this policy;

   7.1.2 complying with this policy; and

   7.1.3 reporting cases where you know, or have a reasonable suspicion, that bribery or corruption has occurred or is likely to occur.

   7.2 We will not penalise anyone for making a report.

8. What should you do if you think something is wrong?

   8.1 Each of us has a responsibility to speak out if we discover anything corrupt or otherwise improper occurring in relation to our organisation (see 7.1.3). We cannot maintain our integrity unless we do so. If you discover or suspect bribery or corruption, whether by:

   8.1.1 another employee or independent contract;

   8.1.2 a third party who represents us;

   8.1.3 one of our suppliers or competitors;

   8.1.4 anyone else—perhaps even a client.

   8.2 You must inform the Chief Executive Officer.

   8.3 You must make your report as soon as reasonably practicable. You may be required to explain any delays.

9. Training

   All staff will receive training on this and related policies. New joiners will receive training as part of the induction process. Further training will be provided at least every two years or whenever there is a substantial change in the law or our policy and procedure.

10. Consequences of failing to comply

    10.1 We take compliance with this policy very seriously.

    10.2  Failure to comply puts both you and our business at risk.

    10.3  You may commit a criminal offence if you fail to comply with this policy. The criminal law relating to bribery and corruption carries severe penalties.

    10.4  Because of the importance of this policy, failure to comply with any requirement may lead to disciplinary action under our procedures, which may result in dismissal for gross misconduct.

At ifac, we recognise that our community is made up of people from diverse backgrounds with varying experiences and needs. We are committed to ensuring that gender equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded into our day-to-day working practices. We actively promote engagement, fairness, respect, gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

In accordance with ‘The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021’, we have published our Gender Pay Gap Report 2022.