Business News

An Tánaiste launches new American Chamber of Commerce CSR platform

By Business & Finance
08 November 2017
Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald (centre) pictured with Alastair Blair, Accenture; Adrienne Gormley, Dropbox; and Annrai O’Toole, Workday at the launch of American Chamber of Commerce Ireland’s new online Corporate Social Responsibility platform at the European Headquarters of Workday in Dublin 7. (Photo: Conor McCabe Photography)

An Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald attended on Monday the launch of a new online American Chamber of Commerce Ireland-created Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform.

The event saw the attendance of many major Irish-based EMEA companies. Included at the launch were Dropbox, Accenture, Intel and representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce, which took place at the Workday offices in Dublin.

To highlight CSR work that is carried out around the country and to promote best practice, the platform contains many innovative capabilities, including a social impact activity wall and testimonials from companies and charity partners.

Access to the portal is through www.Amcham.ie/socialimpact and through the #AmCham4Impact hashtag.

An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald TD said: “I want to congratulate the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland on their new online CSR platform which will showcase the valuable contribution social impact programmes make to improving lives across Ireland.

“Recently, I set out the government’s National Plan on CSR encouraging organisations to put responsible business practice at the heart of their business strategy. It is now important we move ahead and promote more collaboration among enterprises to fulfil our ambition to make Ireland a global centre of excellence for CSR.

“I welcome the thought leadership provided by the American Chamber membership in this space with initiatives like this. It helps to build a more inclusive Ireland; to make Ireland a better place in which to do business, and benefit local communities and the environment.”

American Chamber of Commerce Ireland CEO, Mark Redmond, said: “Using this platform, Chamber members will be able to highlight their social impact and CSR programmes to broaden awareness of action and impact. Chamber members play a crucial role in this area, from the STEM programmes in schools right through to supporting training schemes, and promoting upskilling and access back into the workforce. This platform is the next step on this pathway to further collaboration.”

Research carried out by the Chamber last year showed over 7,300 community projects are supported by American companies in Ireland.