A roundup of today's other business news in brief

Increase in union membership

Union membership has become more common among workers, with 34 per cent of employees belonging to a trade union in the second quarter of 2009, writes Laura Slattery.

The rate of union membership increased from 31 per cent two years earlier, according to figures compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) from its Quarterly National Household Survey.

The figure was even higher for full-time employees, where 37 per cent were members of a union, compared to 20 per cent of part-time employees.

The highest membership rate was in the public administration and defence sector, where 81 per cent of employees belonged to a union.

Permanent TSB deposits hit €10bn

In a further sign than Irish bank customers are saving more, Permanent TSB said yesterday that its retail deposits had passed the €10 billion mark for the first time, writes Suzanne Lynch.

The banking arm of Irish Life & Permanent secured €1.8 billion in deposits in 2009, which means the bank has an estimated 9.8 per cent market share of the deposit book. The loss-making bank, which IL&P is hoping to offload this year aims to attract a further €2 billion in deposits this year.

It said the increase in retail deposits will have no effect on the bank’s capital-raising plans, which involve a €600 million rights issue that would take place only after details of Permanent TSB’s role in the consolidation of the banking sector emerge.

Solicitor and banker appointed to NCA

Solicitor Fergus Gallagher, of Dublin law firm Fitzpatrick Gallagher McEvoy, and David Pierce, director of Ulster Bank’s corporate banking and financial markets, have been appointed to the National Consumer Agency (NCA) by the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan.

The appointments bring to 12 the number of members of the NCA, which is chaired by Stephen Costello.

The Government is preparing legislation to merge the NCA and the Competition Authority.