A forum has been set up by AGFIL and the MSF trade union. It is the first such agreement in the Irish insurance and financial services sector. The aim is to avoid the type of damaging dispute over changes in work practices that plagued Irish Life in recent months. Ironically, AGFIL is 34 per cent owned by Irish Life. The main shareholder is AGF.

After the launch of the forum yesterday, the general secretary of MSF, Mr John Tierney, said the union was involved in discussions with a number of other companies on the establishment of similar forums.

The AGFIL Enterprise Forum will have 13 members. Of these, five will be management representatives, seven will represent the 800 employees and there will be an agreed chairperson.