The ongoing rollout of the national vaccinations programme is offering real hope to business and wider society alike. The sense of increased optimism is tangible and in stark contrast to the dark days of winter. Caution is still the watchword, of course, but a return to some semblance of ‘normality’ by the third and fourth quarters of the year appears to be very much on course.

Throughout the pandemic, the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Ireland has offered original content and expert insights to our members, such as through our exclusive webinars, Director Factsheets, blogs, members' ezine, and much more. Our in-demand Chartered Director Programme – the only one certified as ‘Chartered’ in Ireland - has also continued apace, as have our training workshops and member online networking events. Networking is a key aspect of IoD membership and we hope you find these of interest. In due course, we also hope to resume in-person member events as soon as public health considerations allow.

I would like to offer my congratulations to Imelda Reynolds, who was recently elected President of the IoD Ireland Council. My thanks, too, to former President, Harry Lorton, and to former Director and Company Secretary, Liam Daniel.

Stay safe and well.

Chief Executive

Institute of Directors (IoD) in Ireland

June 2021

Our latest Director Factsheet, from McCann FitzGerald, looks at the The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the “Act”), which was passed into law on 29 April and is expected to enter into force later this year pending secondary legislation.

The Act overhauls the UK's national security screening regime, conferring power on the UK Government to investigate, impose conditions on or block investments which pose an unacceptable risk to national security.

Our sincere thanks to McCann FitzGerald for their ongoing assistance in producing the IoD Factsheets.

Please note: To read this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. For more Director Factsheets, please visit our website.

Our Online Networking Event series continues to be popular with members. The sessions include a presentation from Jean Evans, Founder, NetworkMe, titled 'How to Network Successfully in a Virtual World', as well as allowing members to network in a number of break-out sessions. 

If you would like to revisit Jean’s presentations, or if you were unable to attend, the four presentations to date are available on the IoD website. Each presentation covers some different topics and strategies on how to successfully network. View the presentations below:

Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website.  For more event presentations, please visit our website.

In this IoD Briefings Webinar, recorded on Thursday, 6th May, Donal Óg McCarthy, Managing Director, Cloud First Leader, Accenture, presented his webinar titled, 'The Cloud Imperative – Why Cloud is the Most Value Creating and Disruptive Technology of Our Time'.

In this exclusive webinar, Donal Óg discussed the impact that cloud is having on businesses in Ireland and around the world; how COVID-19 has turned cloud from an aspiration to an urgent mandate for many organisations; the key drivers for adopting cloud; and the challenges and risks that businesses face when adopting cloud.

This webinar is part of our IoD Briefings Series sponsored by Accenture.

Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. For more webcasts, please visit our website.

Michael Furlong has been Managing Partner of The Grey Matters Network for six years. Michael has worked across several sectors in CIO, COO, CEO roles for large corporates, and has had the opportunity to work across the UK, mainland Europe and India. His experience was mainly in large complex operations, Fintech, Energy and Consulting.

The IoD’s Chartered Director Programme is the only Programme in the Republic of Ireland that provides the full designation and recognition as a professional Chartered Company Director (CDir).

An extra cohort has now been added to enable five cohorts to start in September 2021 and finish in June 2022. Places will shortly be circulated for Cohort 74 to those who have completed the expression of interest form.

To book your place on this prestigious programme, please submit an Expression of Interest form. For more information, please contact the training department on 01-411 0010 or email [email protected].

*Subject to Government health guidelines and other public health requirements, this programme will be delivered in a classroom setting. However, online/virtual delivery will be considered where appropriate or necessary.

In this Lunch Bites @ the IoD Webinar, recorded on Thursday, 13th May, Charlotte Valeur, Founder, Global Governance Group, presented her webinar titled, 'Diversity and Inclusion: The Changing Landscape for Directors'.

The webinar explored the importance of diversity and inclusion in the boardroom and the workplace.

This webinar is part of our Lunch Bites @ the IoD Series, and is sponsored by IQ-EQ.

Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. For more webcasts, please visit our website.

The IoD’s Boardroom Centre is the leading independent source of non-executive directors and chairpersons in Ireland.

If you would like to know more about what the Boardroom Centre can do for you and/or your organisation, please visit our website or contact Thora Mackey directly.

While there may be many negative business stories in the news recently, there are also plenty of positive ones. Here are just a few stories we have selected:

The Government has extended eligibility for the €60 million Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) to include businesses operating from a non-rateable premise like a home business or yard. Self-employed working from home, wedding planners, on-course bookmakers, travel counsellors and photographers among those expected to benefit. It is also launching the Micro Enterprise Assistance Scheme so that the smallest businesses, those with a turnover of less than €50,000, can apply for a grant of €1,000 to help with fixed costs.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has announced the publication of further information on The Companies (Small Company Administrative Rescue Process and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021. The Bill amends the Companies Act 2014 to provide for a new dedicated rescue process for small and micro companies.

A public consultation has been announced regarding the General Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill 2021 to consolidate and modernise consumer protection legislation. The Scheme represents "the most far-reaching reform of consumer law in decades". Public Consultation on the General Scheme is open until 30th June 2021.

IoD Member Benefit: The Business Post Digital Subscription

There is an exclusive subscription rate for IoD Ireland members to the Business Post digital subscription.

IoD members can subscribe to the digital edition of the Business Post for €90 + VAT (9%) for 12 months. This is reduced from the current special offer of €149 for 12 months.

Each digital subscription will include: full access to the Business Post website with daily news updates; access to the Business Post e-reader; access to daily newsletters from Monday-Sunday; access to the archive; and access is also available on three different devices.

The Work Safely Protocol is the second revision of the Return to Work Safely Protocol, first published in May 2020. The updated Work Safely Protocol provides guidance on ventilation and vaccinations as part of the range of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as information on how to approach the use of antigen testing in the workplace. Government is now urging employers and their staff to read the Protocol as it reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace.

The Government has outlined the latest measures designed to ease some of the restrictions put in place to counter the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

The next key dates for the easing of further restrictions are 2nd June and 7th June, while a number of higher-risk activities will be considered at the end of June for later in the year.  

The National Vaccinations Programme is continuing to make progress and "thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Irish people, there has been a marked improvement in the status of the virus in the community". View the latest statistics and demographic breakdowns on the Government's COVID-19 Data Hub.

Have you reset your password and accessed the new members' area on the IoD Ireland website? If so, you will have already gained access to our exclusive member only content, such as webcasts, Director Factsheets, blogs and much more.

If you have not yet created your new login details, please follow the below steps to get the most out of your IoD Ireland membership:

Step one: browse to this IoD Ireland website page and on the left hand side of the screen in the 'Returning Members' section please press the 'Password Reset' button. Please then enter your email address to reset your password.

Step two: you will receive a ‘Password Set Request’ email. Please click on the link in this email to create your password and login to access the exclusive members’ area of the IoD Ireland website. (If you do not receive this email, please check your spam/junk email.)

If you have any queries or issues regarding the above, please contact the IoD Comms team.