Shares in FBD ended 4% higher yesterday on relief that the insurer had bought out a costly 2015 bond in a transaction potentially boosting the prospects of higher dividends.

Thousands of visitors have been pouring into Butterfield Estate today to attend the Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show.

In the first of the Irish Examiner 'Farm Focus' podcasts in association with FBD, Noel Baker speaks with farm safety campaigner Peter Gohery about the day that changed his life, and what needs to be done to protect others working in agriculture.

The year 2003 was supposed to be the dawn of a bright new future in farming for Mitchelstown based dairy farmer Maurice Walsh, writes Denis Lehane.

Today’s farmers all played in the yard as youngsters. Now they know how dangerous a place it can be, writes Denis Lehane.

As part of our series on farm safety we met up with two farmers impacted by accidents on the farm. They are thought provoking stories which every farmer should watch.

Staying safe on the farm is something you should think about every day. Here's the do's and don'ts of farm safety that should be uppermost in your mind at all times.

FBD and DCC were the big winners among Irish companies listed on stockmarkets yesterday as the insurer appears to have weathered the snowstorm and Storm Emma while DCC’s extensive home heating business was tipped to benefit from the cold disruption across continental Europe.

Shares in FBD jumped over 11% on rising hopes of a resumption of dividend payments, in time.

The boss of insurance firm FBD has hit back at criticism by the Law Society president that blame for the Setanta Insurance fallout and high premiums lay squarely at foot of the insurance industry, saying it was meritless and ‘without fact’.

Rowers Gary and Paul O’Donovan say benefits from sport far exceed the fleeting joy of a big win. Áilín Quinlan reports

Shares in FBD rose almost 5% as the insurer signalled it was on course to boost profitability as claims conditions had improved and premium prices had increased in recent months.

Irish insurer FBD is eyeing a return to underwriting profits in the final months of the year as premiums continue to increase for policyholders.

Mizen Rovers GAA Club have been named as FBD’s Community Champions for Change.

Former FBD chief executive Andrew Langford received €269,000 in lieu of working his notice period after resigning from the insurer last July as the company struggled with one of the most difficult periods in its history. 

The search has started to find the 2016 FBD Young Farmer of the Year which will have an overall €3,000 travel bursary for the winner.

The search is officially under way for the 18th Young Farmer of the Year.

The country’s only indigenous insurer FBD has warned of further premium rises across its business this year after an “exceptionally difficult” 2015 saw it record an €85m pre-tax loss.

Consumers already hit with huge insurance increases in the past 12 months could be facing further premium hikes, according to one of the country’s most prominent insurers.

FBD, the troubled insurance group, said yesterday it had struck an agreement for an injection of €70m by Fairfax Holdings through a convertible bond.

A record €96.4m loss coupled with imminent staff redundancies and higher customer premiums yesterday marked a very weak set of half-yearly results for FBD.

FBD shares slumped as much as 11% yesterday after the insurer said that its chief executive of seven years has stepped down.

There is great concern at present from both consumers and industry professionals about the insurance industry in Ireland.

FBD has lowered its profit expectations for the year by €16m on the back of higher-than-expected weather and motor/commercial claims from customers.