Governance

At Irish Life, our purpose is to help people build better futures and to live a healthier life. When it comes to sustainability, we know that we have a responsibility to go beyond what our core business entails. As part of our governance practices, Irish Life established an Executive Sustainability Committee.

Governance

Our Sustainability Commitments

Improving the financial, physical and mental wellbeing of our customers and the community is the driving force behind everything we do. We are committed to fostering sustainable practices and governance.

Irish Life commissioned a Sustainability Rating from Vigeo Eiris (an independent international provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and services), receiving an A2 rating.

Our Values

In our business, relationships with our customers and stakeholders are based on one priority: building and maintaining trust. This is achieved by adhering to our values: We Work Best Together, We Do the Right Thing, We Put Customers at the Heart of Everything, We Find Better Ways, and We Aim High. We also ensure that all Irish Life businesses operate with the highest ethical standards.

Our Customers

Putting our customers’ first means delivering products and services that our customers value, marketing our products and services responsibly, competing fairly and ethically, being responsive, and encouraging customer communication.  This includes formalised commitment to informing customers and a complaints charter.

Code of Conduct

The Great-West LifeCo Code of Conduct 'Building Trust by Doing What's Right' applies enterprise wise and has been adopted by the Irish Life Board. It requires all employees and directors to act ethically and in accordance with our core values. Every year all employees and directors complete training on the Code and to acknowledge that they are in compliance with the Code. 

Irish Life Board of Directors

Irish Life is committed to best practice Corporate Governance. The Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of Irish Life and is supported in this regard by an experienced senior management team. Our Board is supported in its oversight and decision-making responsibilities by four governance committees and two executive management committees. 

The Irish Life Executive Sustainability Committee

An Executive Sustainability Committee was established by Irish Life in 2021 to provide leadership on all sustainability aspects within Irish Life. It is comprised of members of the senior leadership team across Irish Life and an independent non-executive director of the Irish Life Board.

Irish Life CSR Committee

The CSR Committee is made up of representatives from all aspects of the business and ensures Irish Life’s sustainability programmes operate according to our core values.  

Irish Life invests over €1m in CSR supports and partnerships every year, the CSR Committee advises on initiatives and CSR programmes.

Sustainable Development Goals

Shaping Irish Life’s Role in Helping People Build Better Futures

Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages, includes our key partnerships to support the physical, mental and financial wellbeing of people in Ireland -

Goal 4: Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, by providing education supports in our communities and through our partnership programmes -


Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

Reduced inequality within and among countries.

Irish Life is proud to champion diversity, equity and inclusion at work and in our communities, this includes:

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns by adopting sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into our reporting cycle, this includes:

Goal 13: Climate Action

Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, our journey includes our commitment to  working towards Net Zero operations and sustainable workplaces.

Feature List