OVER 70% of employees were unaware of the Government’s National Pension Framework proposals and its plans to standardise tax allowances on pension investments.

A new survey has indicated a lack of awareness among the Irish public about the Government's National Pension Framework.

TENS of thousands of families may be waiting weeks after their children return to school before getting state help with the cost of uniforms.

Around 1,000 jobs were threatened today as Bank of Ireland revealed it will sell off a number of its subsidiaries.

BANK of Ireland has reported an underlying pre-tax loss of €979 million for the first half of its financial year; but saw its share price recover strongly yesterday on the back of saying its loan losses shouldn’t deteriorate from its previous guidance, over the next three years.

UP to 500 staff at one of Bank of Ireland’s insurance subsidiaries are to picket the bank’s head office this morning.

THOSE who have not yet cashed in some €244 million worth of Irish punts aren’t losing any sleep over it as it’s probably in their mattress.

THE cost of putting a child through the education system may be about to get a lot more costly than the €60,000 which was reported last week.

CALLS have been made for changes to taxation policy and a cull in the amount of schoolbooks needed by children as the cost of education continues to soar.

All Bank of Ireland Life laptops have now been encrypted and all laptops in the group would be encrypted by the end of next month, it has been announced.

Computers holding personal details of 10,000 Bank of Ireland customers have been stolen, it was confirmed tonight.

Bank of Ireland Life today reported that almost two-thirds of women with children of school-going age have no financial protection against unexpected death.

Bank of Ireland Life has announced the launch of a second phase of its 'Financials Fund'.

FOUR out of 10 parents are already saving for their children’s futures — and they will need to, due to climbing inflation, it was claimed yesterday.

MORE that half of Ireland’s 345,000 entrepreneurs do not have a pension plan despite the availability of generous tax reliefs, new research has found.

CASH-STRAPPED parents are turning in desperation to their local credit union and borrowing a staggering €260 million to fund their child’s education costs, according to research.

Teen-years at school are the most expensive for parents, according to a study published by Bank of Ireland Life today.

Bank of Ireland has announced that its profits rose by 28% at the year ending March 31.

Research issued today by Bank of Ireland Life reveals that non-SSIA holders will not be outdone by their SSIA friends.

Bank of Ireland's life and pensions company has said its new business sales increased by 26% last year to €441.3m.

Bank of Ireland Life have today announced an increase of 26% in overall new business sales for 2006.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was in bullish form this afternoon following news that food group IWAS is to spend a whopping €449m on US baked goods company Otis Spunkmeyer Holdings.

Bank of Ireland Life has announced an increase of 80% in its lump sum investment sales to September 2006.

OVER 70% of people fail to understand the tax relief available to them on pensions, a new survey has found.

BANK of Ireland Life increased new business sales for last year by 27%, making it a contender to be top performer in the Irish market for 2004.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares finished in the black today, up 19.12 points to 7545.25.

Bank of Ireland Life today announced an increase of 27% in its new business sales for 2005.

The ISEQ was up 19.75 points at 6741.67 at 10.30am today.

Bank of Ireland Life has announced new business sales of €158.1m for the six months to June 30, 2005, up 13.1% on the same period last year.

Trade union group Amicus may ballot for industrial action at Bank of Ireland as they are unhappy with parts of the bank's cost-cutting programme.

Bank of Ireland has recorded pre-tax profits of €1.32bn for the past financial year – a 13% increase on the previous 12 months.

CRITICAL illness insurance claims have risen by 73% over the last four years and in 2004 half of all claims were cancer-related.

Brian O’Mahony, Chief Business Correspondent

A Bank of Ireland survey has found that only 17% of customers intend to spend all of their SSIA savings when the scheme matures.

BANK OF IRELAND’S life and pensions arm delivered strong full-year results yesterday announcing a 21% increase in sales.

It was a fairly poor day for the ISEQ, which fell 11.17 points to 6540.63.

It was a fairly poor morning for the ISEQ, which fell 24.23 points to 6527.57.

FOUR out of five people depositing money in the Government savings scheme had never saved before and financial experts predict a €5.2 billion splurge when the scheme matures.

More incentives are needed to encourage people to continue saving after the 1.13 million Special Savings Incentive Accounts mature, it was claimed today.

Bank of Ireland Life, the bank’s life and pensions arm, will launch a campaign aimed at the one-million people with no personal pension arrangements today.

BANK of Ireland’s life and pensions arm set a high benchmark for rivals yesterday when it announced a 43% surge in sales in the first six months of the year.

Bank of Ireland Life (which incorporates New Ireland Assurance), Ireland's leading retail life and pensions provider, today announced results for the half-year to 30 June, 2004.

Research from Bank of Ireland Life revealed today has shown alarmingly low pension coverage levels among Irish consumers.