Chartered Accountants Ireland hosts debate on Integrated Reporting

On Thursday 5th June, Chartered Accountants Ireland in conjunction with the Whitaker Institute staged a seminar on Integrated Reporting (IR). Integrated Reporting is a process based on integrated thinking which aims to result in a concise corporate report about how an organisation’s strategy, governance, performance and prospects lead to the creation of value in the short, medium and longer term. IR seeks to redefine corporate accountability around a broader agenda encompassing intellectual, human, social and natural capital. It combines financial and sustainability reporting. The IR Framework has been developed by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) whose membership includes regulators, standard setters, the accountancy profession and investors. At the seminar, over 60 delegates heard contributions from Dr Ian Ball, Board member of the IIRC, Professor Cristiano Busco, of the Whitaker Institute, and Rafaella Bordogna of ENI Corporation, a major Italian energy conglomerate and early adopted of the IR Framework. This was followed by a lively panel discussion chaired by Dr Emer Curtis of NUI Galway with contributions from CAI members including Maeve Carton, Finance Director of CRH plc, Joe Carr, Mazars, and Frank O’Dwyer, CEO of the Irish Association of Investment Managers.