Out of office: Your essential round-up of the latest business news

Dalata Hotel Group said that trade at its hotels improved in the second quarter of this year as non-essential customers were allowed to return to hotels throughout May and June. In a trading update, the group, which owns the Maldron and Clayton hotels, said that occupancy levels for the second quarter were 24 per cent in Dublin, 32 per cent in regional Ireland and 30 per cent in the UK.

Leo Varadkar, the Tánaiste, said he expects insurance premiums will be reduced “quite soon” following the release of preliminary data from the Personal Injuries Assessment Board that suggested that the average personal injury compensation award decreased by around 50 per cent. The information was continued in the first implementation report of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform, which Varadkar presented to Cabinet at Dublin Castle this morning.The Tánaiste said the 50 per cent reduction in compensations was not matched by a proportionate fall in premiums but that there will be “a recognisable reduction” in these costs.