Employers are being urged to keep an open mind about hiring convicted criminals after they have left prison.
A conference, hosted by Gaisce The President's Award, heard about the benefits of and ways to overcome challenges that come with inclusive hiring practices.
Gaisce Chief Executive Avril Ryan said the biggest obstacle is the perceptions of those who have gone through the criminal justice system.
She called on employers to be open-minded and to look and see what people had done to educate themselves and grow personally.
"There are organisations like Spéire Nua who are working with us on Generation Change, who are absolutely fantastic at helping employers find all the answers, all the concerns, all the worries they might have.
"The Irish Prison Service, The Probation Service are super at connecting people across different communities" Ms Ryan said.
Richard Donovan, from Galway, is one of those who was linked with an employer through Spéire Nua, an organisation that helps prisoners start again.
He served five years in jail for manslaughter.
Last year, he was given another chance when he got a job as a sales assistant in Mr Price.
He has recently been promoted to management and is going back to education.
"I never had full-time employment. The first time going in [to Mr Price], I was a bit shaky and nervous about it because I wanted to do this right and be the best person I could be going forward.
From where I was, coming from prison, to where I am now, it's completely life changing.
"If people see a different side to me ... I'm not just the person on record. I'm a different person going forward.
"I'm an honest genuine person and I just needed a second change at life to prove myself" he added.
Operations Director with Mr Price, Edel McSorley, said the company initally had questions about the initiative but knew that it was the "right thing to do".
"We knew we wanted to do it but it was really, really scary. Is it a risk to the business? What will our other colleagues think?
"But actually when we met individuals that were presented to us we seen these fantastic human beings that just had fire in their belly and just wanted to work and just wanted a chance ... the decision was made much easier.
"It has given us a fantastic culture, a culture of understanding. A culture where we understand people can go to prison and have addictions and have difficulties in their past.
"We can't change their past but we can shape the future," she said.
