UNITE workers from across the financial sector staged a protest at Dáil Éireann at lunchtime today as anger mounts over the lack of action and apparent interest from government at the plight of Bank of Scotland / Halifax workers who have been told that 750 jobs are to go.This is the first time a retail bank has closed in Ireland and the first time that compulsory redundancy notice has been served on Irish workers in the financial sector.

The protest, which took place from 1pm, will culminate in delivery of a letter to an Taoiseach Brian Cowen, demanding a response to the workers alternative proposal for the government creation of a third banking force. This proposal was sent to Cowen and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan on February 8th but no response has yet been received.