From the outset, the overwhelming mandate from members made it clear that members wanted a united Brokers body with a more coherent and focussed single voice for Irish Brokers.  From its inception, the challenge for Brokers Ireland was about making the merger work for all Brokers through recognising the differences as well as the commonalities that apply across our 1,200 member Brokerages.   

Brokers Ireland core mission to members is to prioritise strategic objectives which demonstrate the real and current challenges facing Irish Brokers through consistent representation of Brokers interests and business priorities.  As an Association we work together to promote and protect member’s interests in the areas of business development, education, legislation, lobbying and compliance so that Brokers are best positioned to offer expert and professional advice and services to their clients.

Brokers Ireland exists to protect and serve Brokers and their clients. We continuously strive to prioritise and identify strategic objectives which embody the real and current challenges facing Irish Brokers.  Our fundamental strategic objectives include: 

• Legislation and compliance
• Representation to insurers and lenders
• PR and communications
• Business development
• Membership services

At the heart of our operations we are organised by an overarching Board of Directors and three policy-making subcommittees who include: A Legislation and Compliance Committee; an Insurance Broker Committee and a Financial Broker Committee. These are driving forces in ensuring that all entities and interests are fully represented by Brokers for Brokers. 

The MyBrokers Ireland committee is a subgroup of Brokers Ireland. This group concentrates on the development of staff within Broker offices. Members enjoy CPD events, training and development courses and networking opportunities with industry members.

These 40+ Brokers are involved in guiding policy and the executive Committees (including the Internal Auditor) are made up of Brokers who give of their time voluntarily.  All members of the board and committees are Brokers running their own businesses and their ongoing support, expertise and contribution is invaluable to the association.   

Amongst numerous ‘work in progress’ projects and ongoing developments, some of the noteworthy and outstanding achievements of the merger to date include:

The Commission System is being reformed NOT abolished.

The Central Bank accepted our arguments that consumers are better off with advice and the commission facilitates the widespread availability of such advice as well as enhancing competition in the insurance and financial services market.

The Broker Brand.

We have found the equivalent of the Pharmacy Green Cross – it’s a Blue Circle.  This is a platform to promote the value of Insurance and Financial Broker’s advice at a macro level.  We need to do more to highlight what good advice does for consumers – pour meaning into the brand to use the technical jargon.  After 25 years of separation, Insurance and Financial Brokers have a unified symbol in the Blue Circle – distinct names but a common identity.  Each brand can leverage off each other as we move forward with this project.