The Central Bank's first-ever Private Motor Insurance Report also shows legal costs for most cases settled in court make up nearly two-thirds of the total compensation awarded.

Thousands of jobs could be lost in the next six to eight months unless Irish rules on minor injuries insurance claims are brought in line with the rest of Europe.

A body representing Ireland’s insurance brokers has hit back at claims the profession is involved in anti-competitive practices, after the Government announced an investigation into the public liability insurance market.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform is calling on the judiciary to speedily implement new legislation which would reset the guidelines around the level of personal injury awards.

A dedicated Garda fraud unit is urgently needed to tackle insurance scams, according to the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

A survey has found that small businesses and charities have seen an average increase of 200% in their insurance costs over the last five years.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services and Insurance, Michael D’Arcy has defended the Minister for Justice’s decision to shelve plans for a dedicated Garda Insurance Fraud Unit.

Plans for a dedicated Garda Insurance Fraud Unit have been abandoned.

Up to 200 of Ireland's upcoming festivals are at risk due to an insurance-related issue.

Former High Court president, Nicholas Kearns, is chair of the Personal Injuries Commission which has found that personal injury payouts here are 4.4 times higher than in Britain.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform says that spiralling insurance costs, driven by high financial awards on claims, are crippling small businesses and forcing many to close.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Marts across the country could face closure because of rising insurance costs, while the GAA has seen its insurance bill double in five years, said business and community figures.

The “legal extortion” of crippling insurance premiums is threatening the existence of Ireland’s social fabric, including farmers’ marts, festivals and community celebrations, GAA clubs, and even children’s charities.

Insurance reformers have described as “shocking, but not surprising” reports that a European Commission (EC) investigation into Irish motor insurance is examining allegations that the industry is frustrating access to the market.

A group calling for insurance reform has urged the Government to follow the UK in drafting laws to curb compensation amounts.

A new organisation which includes the Irish Hotels Federation and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has demanded an end to what it calls “crippling insurance premiums”.

There is a warning that businesses will be forced to close and jobs will be lost unless action is taken to bring down rising insurance premiums.

THERE is an old adage about the wine industry that if you want to make a small fortune, you need to invest a very large one first.

Wexford will surely not have an easier outing this year than their visit to O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.