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Powering a Sustainable Future
Ian O’Flynn, Head of Commercial at Gas Networks Ireland, tells InBUSINESS why sustainability and CSR are so important to the company.
Q: How has 2019 been for your business?
A: Gas Networks Ireland achieved many ‘firsts’ in 2019, including bringing renewable gas on the network and opening the first publicly accessible Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling station, and trialling Ireland’s first carbon neutral bus journey.
Most notably, we published our first sustainability report, Sustainability in Action, which highlights our progress in implementing the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals across the business. The report outlines how as guardians of Ireland’s natural gas infrastructure we aim to deliver our services in a sustainable manner that contributes to the protection of the environment while supporting the social and economic development of the communities we operate in, as well as the wider economy.
We also published Vision 2050, our statement on the leading role that the gas network will play in decarbonising Ireland’s economy and society over the coming decades.
Q: What are the major challenges?
A: A major challenge for us is to raise the understanding of the importance of gas and the state-owned €2.6bn gas network to Ireland. For example, did you know that gas is the power behind electricity over half the time? In fact there were days in the very hot summer of 2018, when the wind didn’t blow and gas powered over 90% of Ireland’s electricity.
Q: What does this award recognition mean to you?
A: We are delighted to win the Special Merit in CSR award. Many of our community programmes have been running for well over a decade, so you could say that CSR is in our DNA. It means a great deal for us to be recognised especially at a time Ian O’Flynn, Head of Commercial at Gas Networks Ireland when sustainability and CSR are increasingly important to both business and society.
Q: What are the qualities or initiatives that made your company stand out from the competition?
A: We are proud to be one of only 35 companies in Ireland to hold the Business Working Responsibly Mark for responsible and sustainable business practices. Gas Networks Ireland has a sustainability strategy covering social, environmental and economic pillars. Under the social pillar we run a number of successful community programmes—our 6th class STEM programme Energize reached 5,200 students nationwide last year. We also support literacy and youth employability programmes.
We have comprehensive network safety and employee wellbeing programmes in place, and ever conscious of our duty to the environment we strive to have a positive impact. Our biodiversity enhancement programme has both won and been shortlisted for a number of awards. We work closely with our staff, stakeholders and communities to ensure that sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
