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The Cabinet is due to meet at 1pm today to sign off on a range of measures to help those in mortgage arrears.
The package will include an examinership process for homeowners and provide the courts with new powers to arbitrate on debt deals that have been vetoed by the banks.
Several papers report that British charity Stepchange will be used to act as go-between for homeowners and banks to encourage people to engage with their lenders.
Changes are also planned for the mortgage-to-rent scheme which allows people to voluntarily surrender their home to a bank, which sells it to a housing association that in turn rents it back to the householder.
Meanwhile, a new report by the government’s National Economic and Social Council (NESC), recommends tax reliefs for landlords and longer leases for tenants – of up to 20 years.
Separately, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has written to the chair of the Oireachtas finance committee, Liam Twomey, asking the committee to examine Labour TD Willie Penrose’s proposal to reduce the bankruptcy period from three years to one.
The coalition has come under increasing pressure in recent months to act on the growing mortgage crisis. As to how much the proposals will help those in arrears, time will tell.
Mary Lou McDonald was told to remove a Yes Equality badge she wore in the Dáil. The request was made in line with a long-standing tradition that Oireachtas members, staff and visitors should not wear emblems when in Leinster House.
Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne weighed in on cuts to Accord’s funding.
Originally published: 9am
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