Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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71. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on proposals (details supplied). [24251/15]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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86. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of proposals currently under development in a bank (details supplied) to outsource work and staff from its Information Technology Division to a third-party service provider; the discussions his Department has had with this company regarding the possibility of redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24378/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 86 together.

As the Deputy will be aware under the Relationship Frameworks the State does not intervene in the day to day operations of the banks in which it holds investments or their management decisions regarding commercial matters and hence any discussions around matters such as outsourcing are a matter for the bank, the relevant staff and their union representatives. Notwithstanding this position, my officials do take an active interest in how the bank's cost base evolves to ensure that the State's interests as shareholder are protected and to ensure that the Government's remuneration policy is enforced. 

The bank has previously indicated that as part of its restructuring plan to reduce costs and increase efficiencies, outsourcing of certain functions would be considered in consultation with unions and affected staff. I have also been informed by the bank that there have been no compulsory redundancies as a result of its recent outsourcing activities. Any staff who transfer under outsourcing arrangements transfer under the TUPE regulations.