European Insurance Forum (EIF) 2025 brought more than 370 delegates to Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre on Tuesday September 30th, uniting industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators under the theme “Resilience & Revitalisation: Shaping the Future of Insurance.” The mood was ambitious and forward-looking, with discussions focused on how Ireland can strengthen its role as a global insurance hub while adapting to new risks and technologies.

The day opened with the launch of Milliman’s latest report confirming Ireland as the fourth largest insurance market in Europe. In 2024, the sector paid €74 billion in claims, contributed €3 billion to the Exchequer, supported 43,000 jobs, and managed assets of more than €300 billion. These figures underline its importance to the Irish economy, but the report also warned that trust, talent, competitiveness, and innovation remain pressing challenges.

Insurance Ireland President Noel Freeley built on that message in his keynote address. He welcomed strong engagement from government and regulators but argued that competitiveness must be a shared priority. His proposals included a one-stop shop for foreign investment, stronger talent pipelines, greater investment opportunities, and inclusion of insurance in trade agreements. Above all, he pressed for more efficient regulation, describing it as essential to Ireland’s ability to lead globally.

Government support came through clearly. Minister of State for Finance Robert Troy highlighted that a quarter of Ireland’s financial services workforce is employed in insurance and called it central to a functioning economy. He pointed to the government’s €1.3 billion flood defence programme as a tangible example of resilience in action.

Resilience was also the theme of Seána Cunningham’s remarks for the Central Bank of Ireland. She emphasised that trust and accountability must anchor progress, particularly as technologies like generative AI transform the sector. Innovation, she said, must be balanced with responsibility.

That call for balance was echoed throughout the day. During the panel session entitled Ireland’s Insurance Advantage: Powering Growth, Protecting Futures, economist Dan O’Brien introduced “Blockisation” — the fragmentation of globalisation into regional blocs — while the idea of the “Shamrock of Collaboration” symbolised the shared responsibility of government, regulators, and industry. Both captured the complex international landscape in which Irish insurance must compete.

The panel session Future Proofing Ireland: Insurance Leadership amid Climate, Geopolitical, and Societal Shifts tackled the challenge of regulation versus innovation. Panellists argued that frameworks such as corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) often consume resources without driving meaningful change. What is urgently needed, they agreed, is unlocking capital and directing savings into sustainable investment. The discussion ended with a simple truth: prevention is always better than cure, whether for climate, health, or wider social risks.

One of the day’s most anticipated moments was a fireside chat between Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and James Grennan of A&L Goodbody. Donohoe praised the sector’s contribution to jobs and Ireland’s reputation for stability, but acknowledged that more must be done to support SMEs and consumers. He stressed that education, skills, and AI readiness are the keys to future competitiveness, echoing his broader call for simplification at both national and EU levels.

Leadership in a changing world was the focus point for journalist and digital media innovator Mark Little during his panel discussion, where he drew a sharp line between survival and true resilience. Generative AI has advanced in three years what traditional computing achieved in a century, he noted, making human qualities such as empathy, vision, and communication more important than ever.

Perhaps one of the most significant announcements of the day came from Patrick Tiernan, CEO of Lloyd’s of London, who confirmed that a new Lloyd’s Lab will be established in Ireland next year. The move strengthens Ireland’s reputation as a centre for innovation and global collaboration. Tiernan also paid tribute to the late Eamon Egan, describing him as a bridge-builder whose influence shaped Lloyd’s presence in Ireland.

The closing discussion returned to technology with a panel on AI’s potential to transform customer experience, pricing, and risk management. While the opportunities are vast, panellists cautioned that fairness, regulation, and consumer protection must remain at the heart of its use.

In her closing remarks, Insurance Ireland CEO Moyagh Murdock urged delegates to leave the forum not just resilient but revitalised, ready to shape a more dynamic and sustainable future for the industry.

EIF 2025 confirmed that Ireland’s insurance sector is ambitious, collaborative, and outward-looking. By streamlining regulation, investing in people, and embracing responsible innovation, it can continue to be both a vital pillar of the Irish economy and a global leader in shaping the future of insurance.