Environment

Our responsibility extends beyond people to the physical impact of our business on the environment.

In 2005 we achieved the international environmental management standard ISO 14001, the first mobile business in Ireland to do so. Having achieved this for our office accommodation we are now striving for a second phase which will include our switch sites.

We continue to sponsor National Tree Week in Ireland, which takes place every March and aims to distribute and plant 15,000 trees around the country. We run the Fonebak® recycling scheme through our stores and offices and the revenues which are generated from the scheme support National Tree Week and the international charity, Rainforest Concern. We also lead the O2 Group companies in the use of renewable energy, which currently stands at 30 per cent of our total usage.

Our 2G and 3G network builds are regulated by all the relevant codes of practice on safety and best siting practice and our community liaison team works to ensure we inform the public openly about our plans and policies.

Stakeholder dialogue is the key to building a responsible business and we believe it is paramount. Our stakeholders include politicians and officials, regulators, lobby groups, consumer groups, trade associations, parents and the communities we serve.

In January 2005, approximately 1,000 litres of diesel was leaked to ground in Bencroy Co. Leitrim. A thorough clean-up operation took place without any significant residual contamination. We went on to achieve our target of 100 per cent secondary protection of diesel tanks at our fixed installations by March 2005.