Bank of Ireland uses bail out funds to stick two fingers at the Irish constitution

In a move that will delight Unionists and any survivers of the Irish Farmers Party, Bank of Ireland has announced it has created a UK wholly owned subsidiary into which it will transfer its business in the north of Ireland. Surely this is constitutionally questionable - particularly that the bank has been bailed out with public funds.

So we seem to be going backwards. Integration of the whole of Ireland is a cornerstone of the Irish constitution. For an Irish businesses, particluarly one with a government stake, to separate its business in the north and put it into a UK subsidiary is unbelievable and will turn many a patroit in his grave.

It is understandable to create a British subsidiary to encompass those parts of Bank of Ireland that reside and operate in Britain. But Ireland is Ireland and any business in Ireland should remain as part and parcel of the Irish business operation. Does the peace process mean that we are all afraid now to voice any concern about anything?