A conference on corporate ethics is being held in Dublin today and tomorrow by the Irish branch of the European Business Ethics Network.

The conference, entitled Corporate Conscience, will examine a number of issues relating to corporate crime and ethics.

A range of experts on the subjects will contribute to the conference, including Irish Times columnist John Waters.

The conference will address a number of topics, such as whether corporate criminals should be imprisoned, whether corporations can have consciences and whether organisations can behave morally irrespective of which people are employed.

Other issues that will be examined include how other countries think Ireland is handling its economic crisis, how do managers justify the unjustifiable, particularly to themselves, and what role do business schools play in future corporate integrity.

The conference will also ask how to persuade young people that going into business or banking does not mean that they are entering a sphere that is irredeemably corrupt?.

In addition, there will be presentations from social entrepreneurs and humanitarian organisations.

The conference is being held in All Hallows College, Drumcondra.