IoD Members' Update
November 2020

We are now over a month into the final quarter of what has been an exceptional year, as the country finds itself under Level 5 restrictions to try and counter the ‘second wave’ of COVID-19. Simultaneously, we are also approaching the deadline for the end of the Brexit transition period without a trade deal between the UK and the EU. Advance findings of our latest quarterly Director Sentiment Monitor survey, to be published in full at the end of this month, show that IoD members remain optimistic that a trade deal can be reached. In relation to another of our significant trading partners, the USA, our research also found that a victory for former Vice-President Joe Biden over the incumbent President Donald Trump would be their preference in terms of its potential impact on our trade relations with the US.

It is timely, therefore, that we are delighted to invite you to join other IoD members in an exclusive webinar with Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, on Thursday, 12th November. In this webinar, Minister McGrath will provide an ‘Update on the Programme for Government and the Irish Economy’. With so much happening domestically and internationally, and with a live Q&A facility, we hope that you will join us for what promises to be a fascinating and insightful session, followed by a live Q&A session.
IoD Webinar
An Update on the Programme for Government and the Irish Economy 
As part of our ongoing work to share exclusive content and insights with members, we are delighted to invite you to join our upcoming webinar with Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In this webinar, Minister Michael McGrath TD will provide an ‘Update on the Programme for Government and the Irish Economy’
 
Date: Thursday, 12th November 2020
Presenter: Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Time: 09:30 - 10:30
Webinar: This event will take place online as a webinar. 
Cost: Free of charge. IoD members only.
Registration: Registration closes at 5:00pm 11th, November 2020
 
The IoD Morning and Evening Briefings Series is kindly sponsored by Mazars.

Please note, there will be a live Q&A facility for this webinar.
'D&O Insurance: Important Questions to Ask...'
McCann FitzGerald Factsheet
November 2020
 

Directors know that directors’ and officers’ (“D&O”) liability insurance is important, particularly in regulated and prudential industries and in businesses that operate in the USA.

A director will often ask a company how much D&O insurance cover there is in place before he or she accepts appointment to its board. However the amount of insurance cover is not the only question for a director to ask because the detail of policies differs, ‘small print’ may limit the directors’ protection and, in practice, some insurers are slow to pay. Simply having a D&O insurance policy in place may give false comfort. Therefore this factsheet looks at other considerations of which a director or a prospective director should be aware.

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.   If you have trouble with the below link, please login and browse to the Directors' Factsheets section.
A Unique Qualification for Directors
and Strategic Business Leaders
The IoD’s Chartered Director Programme offers a unique qualification for directors and strategic business leaders in Ireland. Combining learning and professional experience, the Chartered Director Programme will equip you with the all-round skills, knowledge and understanding essential to effectively and successfully lead your organisation. Join over 1,200 senior business leaders who have already undertaken this prestigious programme.

The Chartered Director Programme is made up of three phases:

  • Phase 1: Certificate in Company Direction (Four classroom-based modules + exam)
  • Phase 2: Diploma in Company Direction (One classroom-based module + exam)
  • Phase 3: Becoming a Chartered Director (Professional review process)

The Programme is delivered through eleven *classroom-based learning days in cohorts of 20 participants, leading to a Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction. Successful participants may go forward for admission to become a Chartered Director (CDir), subject to eligibility criteria. 

The next available cohort for the Chartered Director Programme will be Cohort 69 which will begin on 21st January 2021. Place offers for Cohort 69 are now in circulation to those who have completed the application process. This schedule is subject to Government and health guidelines in relation to COVID-19.

Please note: This is the last available cohort beginning in January 2021. Cohort 70 and subsequent 2021 cohorts will begin in September 2021.

Please contact the training department on 01-4110010 or email  training@iodireland.ie for further information.

*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.
The IoD Blog:
'Hopeful for a Trade Agreement as Brexit Negotiations Continue'
'At the time of writing, the United Kingdom has slipped past its self-imposed trade deal deadline of 15th October, but we are hopeful that there is still time for the UK and the European Union to hammer out a trade deal ahead of its exit from the European Union at the end of December.' 

So writes Joanne McEnteggart, Managing Director, IQ-EQ Ireland, in this month's blog, 'Hopeful for a Trade Agreement as Brexit Negotiations Continue'. Joanne also looks at the impact on Foreign Direct Investment Investment and at the Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020.

This article has been written exclusively for IoD Ireland members.

Previous blogs are also available on our website. If you are interested in contributing to our blog or for further information, please contact Paul O'Mahony at [email protected] or call 01 411 0010. 
Deliver Results for Your Board
IoD Ireland Board Evaluation Service
Avail of the IoD Ireland Board Evaluation Service to learn how effectively your board is executing its roles and responsibilities.

Through the lens of best practice governance standards and your organisation’s business context, IoD Ireland's experienced Board Assessors examine how effectively your board and board committees are operating.
 
The service is efficient robust , and completely confidential . It has an average completion term of just six weeks. Furthermore, the entire process can be undertaken virtually.

Our team of Board Assessors include Chartered Directors and/or governance specialists - Dr Margaret Cullen, Carol Bolger CDir, Marie Collins CDir and Clare Duignan. Our Assessors have worked across sectors as diverse as telecoms, financial services, hospitality, property, healthcare, communications, construction, energy, and education.
Meet a Member
Ken McIntyre-Barn is the Managing Partner of AIMS International Ireland which is a global executive search and leadership development firm in over 50 countries across the world. Ken has proven expertise in finding outstanding people across different functions and multiple industries. Since commencing his executive search career in 2010, Ken has achieved a zero-candidate failure rate. Ken was first to market with a unique service offering every successful candidate a six-month onboarding executive coaching programme. He is a member of IoD Ireland since 2008.

What advice would you offer to new or aspiring directors in Ireland?
I think it is important to identify a number of successful leaders who inspire you and try to learn from their success and how they achieved it. Networking is also particularly important in terms of building up a strong network of like-minded people with whom you can give and receive advice and support. 

What do you particularly value from your IoD membership?
Prior to COVID-19 I really valued the networking events which had great speakers with relevant topics. Since the COVID-19 pandemic commenced, I think the IoD have really adapted to the new normal by utilising online platforms to continue to provide excellent speakers on relevant topics. 
How Are We Doing?
IoD Ireland Member Survey
As an IoD Ireland member we value your insights and views, especially as we navigate these unprecedented times. With this in mind, we would very much appreciate your assistance in completing this short member survey.
We want to ensure that we build on what you value as a member, and this survey will help to inform our services to you, and ensure that the IoD is able to meet your requirements over the months ahead.
 
To complete the survey, please click on the button below by 5.30pm on Friday, 6th November.
 
Please note, the average completion time is under two minutes and all responses are anonymous. If you have already completed this survey, please ignore this note and thank you for your views. Thank you in advance for your participation.
IoD Webcast
Reshaping the Economy in the Wake of COVID-19 and Brexit
In this webinar, recorded on 26th October 2020, Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland addressed the topic of 'Reshaping the Economy in the Wake of COVID-19 and Brexit'.
 
COVID-19 has brought many unseen challenges in relation to the sustainability of businesses. On foot of their strong 2019 performance, some companies, fortunately, came into this crisis in a healthy state. Furthermore, Brexit planning put many businesses in a good position to begin the reshaping of the economy, however, many are still facing challenges. 

In this webinar, Julie discussed issues such as: liquidity; customer demand; people, logistics and supply chain issues; Enterprise Ireland’s response to the pandemic: 2020 - A Challenging Year. 

This webinar is part of our IoD Morning and Evening Briefings Series, and is kindly sponsored by Mazars

COVID-19 supports from Enterprise Ireland are available on their website, via email [email protected], and by phone +353 1 727 2088.

Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website.  If you have trouble with the below link, please login and browse to the Webcasts of IoD events section.
IoD Webcast
Brexit and Beyond for Ireland and the EU
In this webinar, entitled 'Brexit and Beyond for Ireland and the EU', and recorded on Tuesday, 6th October, Professor Brigid Laffan, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, shares her views on the current status of the Brexit trade talks. This included addressing what this will mean for the future relationships between the EU and the UK and between Ireland and the UK.

This webinar is part of our Lunch Bites @ the IoD series, kindly sponsored by IQ-EQ

Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website.  If you have trouble with the below link, please login and browse to the Webcasts of IoD events section.
On the Bright Side…
Positive News in Business
While there may be many negative business stories in the news recently, there are also plenty of positive ones. Here are just 10 stories we have selected:

Policy and Announcements Hub
Preparing for Brexit
Enterprise Ireland has a dedicated web portal covering all the key essentials regarding Brexit, including webinars, toolkit, readiness checker, insights, supports and online customs training.

Budget 2021
On 13th October 2020, the Government delivered Budget 2021 which incorporates measures to address the uncertainties of Brexit and COVID-19.

Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020
The Government has approved the draft text and publication of the Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020. The aim of Bill is to promote investment, secure Ireland’s competitiveness and enhance our regulatory environment in international financial services.
IoD and Members in the News
IoD Member Benefits
Glennon Insurance - D&O, Car, Home
Glennon Insurance has created a tailored insurance solution for individual directors in Ireland, available only to IoD Ireland members.
 
This exclusive insurance scheme covers executive and non-executive directors, and senior management against legal actions and their costs, and helps protect personal assets.
 
Glennon Insurance is delighted to offer IoD members a complimentary and confidential consultation regarding Directors and Officers' (D&O) insurance.
 
In addition, Glennon Insurance has negotiated exclusive car and home insurance schemes for our members and their spouses or partners. 
A Wealth of Exclusive, Original Content Available Now in the Exclusive Members’ Area of the IoD Website
IoD Ireland's exclusive Members' Area hosts a range of timely expertise, resource documents and newly commissioned content.
 
The area contains helpful Director Factsheets, from partners such as McCann FitzGerald, Eversheds Sutherland, Davy, Arthur Cox, and more.

The hub also contains exclusive blogs, such as insightful submissions by Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor, Central Bank of Ireland; Jean Callanan, Founder of MomentaHub, and Chair of the Irish Hospice Foundation; and Fiona O’Carroll, Founder, Digital Mindset.

Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website.  If you have trouble with the below link, please login.
COVID-19: Information and Resources
Government Supports for COVID-19 Impacted Businesses
There is a wide range of supports available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Visit the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation website for more information.  


Level-by-Level National Plan
The Government has updated the graphic version of its National Plan which outlines the public health restrictions across numerous criteria through Levels 1 to 5.

COVID-19 Data Hub
The information presented in the Data Hub is based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). Datasets, charts and maps are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data. 

It is also recommended to read the HSE's How to Get Tested advice.
Connect with the IoD
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