Annual premium sales of pension plans at New Ireland Assurance rose by 42 per cent to £28.2 million (€35.8 million) in 2000. The increase in pensions helped to boost overall sales in annual premium equivalent terms - annual premium sales plus 10 per cent of non-recurring single premium sales - from £42.3 million to £54.9 million, an increase of 30 per cent for the year, New Ireland said.