Any move to introduce fingerprinting or retina scanning of staff as part of a high-tech new computer system at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork will be firmly opposed, according to the union, Siptu. Michelle McDonaghreports.
A retina scan is a biometric technique that uses the unique patterns on a person's retina to identify them. Such cutting-edge security techniques have been used by US government agencies such as the FBI, CIA and Nasa.
But now staff members at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork fear that they may have to undergo such intrusive Big Brother-style security checks on a daily basis.
Joe O'Callaghan of Siptu in Cork said the union had been engaged in ongoing briefing sessions with hospital management regarding the overall modernisation of systems.
"As part of this modernisation which, of course, is all being done under the heading of best management and control practice, they may be introducing a new form of record attendance to replace the old clock in and out system. This would involve either fingerprinting or some eye contact biometric system," he said.
However, a spokeswoman for the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork said the staff's fears were unwarranted as the hospital had no intention of introducing the biometric system there.
"A new payroll system is being introduced at the Bon Secours, it has been a largely manual system so far," she said.
"In the past week or two, presentations on this new system have been made to supervisors. I believe some of the concerns being raised are about some kind of a biometric option of retinal scans or fingerprinting.
"This was mentioned in the overall briefing on the new package as an optional extra, but it is not being introduced as part of the package at the Bon Secours in Cork."
Mr O'Callaghan said the union had been aghast at the suggestion of any form of biometric scanning in an Irish hospital which it felt bordered on the infringement of the rights of staff.
"If you were going into Fort Knox where gold bullion is stored or a building where State secrets were kept, it might be necessary but I think it's going way too far for an ordinary Joe Soap going into work in a hospital every day," he remarked.
Mr O'Callaghan said the union, which represents the majority of the 750 full-time and 200 part-time staff working at the hospital, would be meeting management this week to outline their objection to the possible introduction of such a security system.