When Irish Life was formed 85 years ago Ireland was a very different place.  A poor agrarian recently independent nation with low living standards and life expectancy.  Now it’s one of the wealthier places in Europe with much higher wages and standards. 

Irish Life has changed too from being part of Permanent TSB to being part of the Canadian business Great West Lifeco.  It’s still the biggest life assurance player in Ireland but also increasingly in healthcare and one of the biggest investors in Europe. The person in charge is chief executive Declan Bolger who joined Joe in the studio this morning.