Approximately 1.8 million people have less than €100 per month to spend after paying essential bills – they’ll have even less after the introduction of the new Local Property Tax, and the retail sector will be hit again, writes Mandate’s John Douglas.
Comments by the Central Bank Governor and the Taoiseach reveal unhappiness over how lenders are dealing with their customers’ over-indebtedness – so why is nothing concrete being done to regulate them, asks Noeline Blackwell.
The Governor of the Central Bank said that banks will have to act more “ pro-actively” and “liberally” in respect of those who cannot realistically pay their mortgages.
TDs will reconvene after 10pm tonight to discuss plans to transfer IBRC’s assets to NAMA – as part of a deal to replace the promissory notes with long-term Government bonds.
In a leaked document, the Troika suggests a number of radical measures to address the health service overspend including hiring specialists from abroad, cutting doctors’ pay and making savings on the cost of drugs.
The Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan has said that he is confident that the government will “get a lot” from its negotiations aimed at reducing the bank debt.
Honohan welcomed a yesterday’s comments by ECB President Mario Draghi – saying that it marked an important step for Ireland and the rest of the Eurozone.
Enda Kenny said today there was no file in the Department of Taoiseach related to the discussions surrounding the bank guarantee of September 2008, suggesting it may have been shredded.
Patrick Honohan is due to answer questions over the Anglo Irish promissory note repayment and the emergency liquidity provided to banks during the crisis.
INDEPENDENT TD MICK Wallace is to file a complaint about the Minister for Justice’s use of information on RTÉ’s Prime Time last week.
Alan Shatter said on live television that the Wexford deputy benefited from garda discretion when he was cautioned for using a mobile phone – but not given penalty points. Wallace insists he is not aware of such an incident.
Shatter has stood by his remarks and he has also been backed by the Taoiseach who said that “people can’t have it both ways”. “You cannot be saying no discretion and at the same time availing of discretion.”
Labour Deputy Kevin Humphreys told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that he thought making the remarks was “poor judgement” on the minister’s part. He called on Shatter to explain how he received the information. Others have claimed the information could have been made public in a different manner, and not on live television without giving Wallace prior warning.
In today’s poll, we ask: Should Alan Shatter have made his comments about Mick Wallace on Prime Time?
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