The directors endorse the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (“the Code”) as revised by the Financial Reporting Council (“FRC”) in June 2008 which sets out Principles of Good Governance and a Code of Best Practice. The Listing Rules of the Irish and London Stock Exchanges require a statement to be made in relation to compliance with the Code. The directors have reviewed the group’s corporate governance arrangements in light of the Code and believe that they are fully in compliance.
The directors note that a review of the Code was undertaken by the FRC in 2009 following which a revised Code entitled the UK Corporate Governance Code (“the UK Code”) was published in June 2010. In December 2010, the Irish Stock Exchange (“ISE”) also published the Irish Corporate Governance Annex which implements the recommendations from a report commissioned by the ISE and the Irish Association of Investment Managers in early 2010. The board welcomes the additional provisions of the new codes which come into effect for the company’s accounting period ending 31 December 2011.
The directors have developed a code of practice which deals with, among other matters, issues of corporate governance. This code of practice is designed to ensure that the main principles and the supporting principles of good governance set out in Section 1 of the Code are applied within the group.
n 2009, the board commissioned international risk management and strategy consultants Oliver Wyman to review the group’s Corporate Governance framework and to advise on any changes necessary to ensure the group was operating in line with emerging international best practice. The board accepted and implemented the recommendations made by Oliver Wyman in this regard.
In November 2010 the Central Bank of Ireland issued a Corporate Governance Code for Credit Institutions and Insurance Undertakings (“the CBI Code”). This CBI Code imposes minimum core standards upon all credit institutions and insurance undertakings with additional requirements upon entities which are designated as major institutions. Both Irish Life & Permanent plc and Irish Life Assurance plc have been designated as major institutions under the CBI Code.
- Compliance with the Combined Code on Corporate Governance
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The Irish Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority require listed companies to disclose, in relation to section 1 of the Code, how they have applied its principles and whether they have complied with its provisions throughout the accounting year.
The company has complied fully throughout the most recent accounting period with the provisions set down in section 1 of the Code including the application of its principles as set out in this report. The auditor’s report within the Annual Report covers their review of the company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the Code specified for their review by the listing rules of the Irish Stock Exchange.
Please note this content represents the Company’s current Corporate Governance, to find out more about the Corporate Governance for the 2009-2010 financial year please access this PDF