Code of Conduct

1About this Code

The Alliance of Irish Translation Companies (the “Alliance”) is a professional network for translation, localization, and language service companies. This Code of Conduct sets out the standards every member company agrees to uphold as a condition of membership.

Membership signals a company’s commitment to these standards. It is not a certification, accreditation, or quality guarantee issued by the Alliance, and the Alliance is not a regulatory or representative body. The Code exists to keep the network, and the member badge, meaningful for members, their clients, and the wider industry.

This Code applies to every member company and to the people who represent it within the Alliance.

2Eligibility

To join and remain a member, a company must:

• Be a legally registered business that provides translation, localization, interpreting, or related language services, operating in or serving the Irish market.
• Provide accurate information about itself at registration and keep its member profile up to date.
• Hold the insurance and registrations required to operate lawfully in its jurisdiction.
• Maintain its membership in good standing, including payment of the annual membership fee.

3Professional standards

Member companies commit to:

• Deliver work to a professional standard, using suitably skilled translators, revisers, and resources for each assignment.
• Agree scope, timelines, and pricing clearly with clients before work begins, and honour the commitments they make.
• Be honest about their capabilities and not accept work they are not equipped to deliver.
• Handle client feedback and complaints promptly, fairly, and in good faith.

4Confidentiality and data protection

Member companies commit to:

• Treat client materials and information as confidential and use them only for the purpose for which they were provided.
• Comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable Irish and EU data protection law in handling personal data.
• Put appropriate confidentiality terms in place with their own staff, freelancers, and subcontractors.

5Business integrity

Member companies commit to:

• Market their services honestly and avoid any statement that is misleading about their services, results, or affiliations.
• Represent their membership of the Alliance accurately and never imply that the Alliance certifies, ranks, or guarantees their work.
• Compete fairly and deal honestly with clients, suppliers, and other members.
• Comply with applicable law, including competition, anti-bribery, sanctions, and consumer protection law.

6Use of the member badge and the Alliance name

• The member badge and the Alliance name may be used by a company only while its membership is active and in good standing.
• The badge indicates current membership and agreement to this Code. It must not be presented as an accreditation, certification, or endorsement of quality by the Alliance.
• On lapse, suspension, or termination of membership, the company must promptly remove the badge and any claim of membership from its website, materials, and profiles.
• The Alliance name, logo, and badge remain the property of the Alliance and may not be altered or used in any way that could mislead.

7Conduct within the network

• Members and their representatives treat one another, Alliance staff, partners, and event participants with respect and professionalism.
• Harassment, discrimination, and abusive behaviour are not tolerated in any Alliance channel, event, or forum.
• Members participate in good faith and do not use Alliance platforms to mislead, spam, or disparage others.

8Competition law

Alliance events, forums, and communications bring competing companies together, so all members must take care to respect competition law. Members must not use any Alliance setting to:

• Discuss, fix, or coordinate prices, rates, margins, or commercial terms.
• Allocate clients, markets, or territories among themselves.
• Boycott, or agree to boycott, particular clients or suppliers.
• Exchange commercially sensitive information that could restrict competition.

Discussions should stay focused on the development of the profession and the sector as a whole.

9Breaches of this Code

• Concerns about a member’s conduct may be raised with the Alliance in writing at hello@irishtranslationcompanies.org.
• The Alliance will review concerns fairly and may ask the member for information or a response.
• Where a breach is found, the Alliance may, depending on its seriousness, issue a warning, require corrective action, suspend membership, or terminate membership.
• A company whose membership is terminated must stop using the badge and the Alliance name immediately. Termination does not entitle the company to a refund of fees already paid.
• The Alliance aims to act reasonably and proportionately, and a member may respond to any decision affecting its membership.

10Changes and contact

The Alliance may update this Code from time to time. Material changes will be communicated to members, and continued membership constitutes acceptance of the current version.

Questions about this Code can be sent to hello@irishtranslationcompanies.org.