The Labour Party has formally requested the Dail’s Finance Committee to invite the Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Carmel Foley, to appear before it to hear her views on the withdrawal of bank services around the country.
Mr Derek McDowell, Labour Party finance spokesman, has asked the Chairperson of the Dail’s Finance Committee to request Ms Foley’s attendance at a hearing to examine the effects of the withdrawal of services on the general public.
This follows last month’s statement by Ms Foley in which she expressed her concern that the Bank of Ireland had not advised her of these decisions despite the fact that her Office had been in discussions with the Bank for the past six months in relation to certain changes that the Bank wished to make.
Ms Foley said that although she accepted that financial institutions needed to embrace the opportunities offered by new technology she was anxious that institutions appreciate that not all customers could adapt to such technology as rapidly as the institutions themselves.
"There is mounting public concern at what is seen as the withdrawal of services offered by the Banking sector," Mr McDowell said.
"The Irish Bankers Federation has recently produced a voluntary code of practice covering a number of issues including bank closures.
"However at the same time branches are closing at an alarming rate around the country.
"To date the needs of the consumers are taking second place to the profit margins of the banks."