Bank of Ireland has raised a question mark over the timing of paying out its first dividend since the financial crisis, blaming the fallout of the Brexit vote on sterling and lower bond yields for the decision.

Shareholders in Aviva Health shared a €12.5m dividend payout from the Irish company last year as its profits increased by close to 45%.

Concert promoter Denis Desmond shared in a near- €17.3m dividend payout last year from a firm co-owned by his UK joint venture.

The Dalata Hotel Group is to consider paying a maiden dividend to shareholders based on its 2017 earnings, management said yesterday.

Independent News & Media (INM) is expected to reward shareholders with a special dividend next year and commit to a sustainable dividend policy for the first time in nearly a decade.