BoI IT staff ask Harney to intervene

The Tanaiste Mary Harney is being called upon to intervene in a move by Bank of Ireland to outsource its IT function.

The Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) claims the bank's move could threaten the jobs of 300 people employed in the IT division.

IBOA General Secretary Larry Broderick says staff are mystified by the proposal.

"We have said to the Bank very clearly that the staff's view is to retain the jobs within Bank of Ireland. I don't think there is a base business case to outsource," he said.

"Given the IT vulnerability and market at the moment one would have expected the bank to retain those jobs."