Dear Conference Delegate, on behalf of Insurance Ireland, I am delighted to extend a warm Irish Welcome to you our members and to our Insurance Europe Colleagues, their accompanying guests, sponsors, participants from Europe and beyond. For international delegates, we welcome you to the Island of Ireland and to Dublin our capital city. Insurance Ireland, as a proud member of Insurance Europe, is delighted to be your host for the Insurance Europe 8^th International Conference & General Assembly. We are grateful for the opportunity that hosting the conference provides to greatly enhance the development of the insurance industry globally by furthering knowledge and understanding. We are also proud to showcase Ireland in a momentous year.

Our conference delegates will benefit from the educational and collaborative knowledge sharing of the conference and general assembly which will help to further inform best practice from shared member experiences across Europe and beyond. These learning experiences are the trademark of the International Conference and the key to its continuing successes. We have invited a panel of international speakers to provide both European and International perspectives that will help guide and inform international best practice. Over the coming weeks and months we will publish details of our speaker line-up on this dedicated conference website and our own Insurance Ireland website www.insuranceireland.eu. 2016 is a particularly significant year for Ireland, marking the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, the event that marked the country’s first step towards independence.

A series of major exhibitions and commemorative events have already been planned and visitors to Ireland are sure to find much to interest them. Our location between Europe and America, and our traditions combine to produce a land that is accessible, welcoming and a pleasure to visit. We expect that for many this may be a first visit to Ireland, while for others it may be an opportunity to return home. To all delegates and accompanying partners we say Céad Míle Fáilte, one hundred thousand welcomes, we know Ireland will exceed your expectations and you will find it engaging and inspiring.

Looking forward to meeting you in Dublin.

Kevin Thompson
CEO Insurance Ireland