We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Updated, 17.52
THE BRITISH EMBASSY to Ireland and Áras an Úachtaráin have jointly confirmed that the Queen and Prince Philip will visit Ireland for three days next month, with the pair arriving in Ireland on May 17.
The programme of events will include a formal welcome for the couple at the Áras from President Mary McAleese, a courtesy call to Government Buildings to meet the Taoiseach, and a State dinner at Dublin Castle.
Both the Queen and President McAleese will deliver speeches at the Castle, the Áras confirmed.
The Royal visit will also take in events at Trinity College, Croke Park, the National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge, and a trip to the Guinness Storehouse.
A keen follower of horse racing, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will also visit the Irish National Stud in Co Kildare before travelling onward to Cashel and then to Cork.
An event will also take place at the British Embassy in Dublin, hosted by ambassador Julian King.
In a statement this evening, the ambassador said the visit would offer a “wide-ranging and exciting celebration of the close ties between our two countries”.
“Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh will be able to experience at first hand the vibrant links that make our relationship with Ireland so important. This is a historic visit that also celebrates our close modern partnership,” King explained.
In a statement of its own, the GAA said the visit to Croke Park – where Tipperary footballer Michael Hogan and 13 spectators were killed when British forces entered the ground and opened fire during a match – would also be a deeply historic occasion.
The British Embassy said it would try to make time for the Queen to accept other invitations issued to her for events in the course of her trip. A spokesman for the embassy told TheJournal.ie this evening that it could not yet disclose the Queen’s engagements in Cashel or Cork.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This is a complete myth, it is not easy to switch your mortgage, you essentially have to be completely reassessed again.
@Keith Twamley: of course you do …that’s exactly what a remortgage is
@Mark: Did you read the article Mark?
“Where you have switching that’s easy and fast, you have more competition”
@Keith Twamley: I was fixed for 5 years, 2 years in I asked about switching to the much lower new rate they have, No issue whatsoever no cost at all new rate fixed it for 4 years and reduced the term, all done over email took about 10 days. If you don’t ask you won’t get, I was surprised how easy it was and that their was no cost involved. EBS btw.
@Keith Twamley: It really should be as easy as switching electricity/gas.
Wont happen but it should be.
@Keith Twamley: That sounds great Cormac, unfortunately I don’t think it is the experience most have though, it really should be that easy, but usually is not, which is why most people are so reluctant to do it..
@Cormac Harte: Same here actually. Was on a fixed rate with the bank. I asked them if there would be any fee going to a new lower fixed rate. No problems.
And I did it again where I got a lower LTV rate. Again no problems. All with the same bank over the last 2 years.
@Keith Twamley: I think the issue is if your moving to a different bank you have to go through the whole rigmarole. If people look a little closer to home with their own banks 90% of them have far lower rates that they did 2 years ago worth a try asking for the lower rate I know 2 others mates that did the same thing with a different bank and same thing a very easy process. switching mortgage doesn’t necessarily mean switching banks. It’s worth a shot.
@Cormac Harte: Yes, thanks Cormac, I appreciate it is easier when sticking with the same bank. The article was really talking about switching providers. Just think there are so many things wrong with the banks, central bank has a lot to do with it too. Given the high price of houses currently, it doesn’t make sense to only be able to borrow 3.5 times your salary. And rent not being taken in to account in todays market is also crazy. I am foolishly hopeful that some of these issues will be addressed in next months budget. But think it will always be difficult to switch providers.
@Keith Twamley: that quote was from a commission member, not a Bank CEO. So I wouldn’t rely on it for your argument. Banks need to make sure you’re a good risk, so obviously they’ll do due diligence. Unlike the Celtic Tiger days, and we all know what lax assessment criteria resulted in. So this thorough ressement is the correct, prudent approach for a Bank
@Cormac Harte: switching can be easy enough when you’re staying within the same institution, it’s a completely different kettle of fish when you’re transferring externally. We’ve done it and saved thousands but it’s long and complicated, you also need to consider solicitor fees etc.
@Mark: It’s not a remortgage, that doesn’t exist in Ireland. The ‘person’ at BOI told us ‘they’d never heard of a remortgage’
Remortgaging (or whatever its called here), is like competing in Jumanji
In the process of switching. Taken about six months already
@Rmaybe: I was trying to switch to Avant earlier this year. I gave up after being asked for accountant letter, payslips (for the third time) and other docs. Our mortgage is 15 years old, we’re earning twice what we were earning back then and we’ve never missed one payment.
In the end I just contacted my current lender and fixed at their lowest fixed rate. Not quite as good as Avants but soooooo much simpler and no need for solicitors and it took one phone call and one form to sign.
It’s not that easy to switch I’ve tried and even though I’ve been over paying my mortgage for 4 years the bank says my earnings dont qualify for a mortgage so I’m stuck.
So, here come higher interest fixed rates, in exchange for longer fixed loan terms.
The banks will always win no matter what and that’s ok as long it’s within a reasonable margin ,that end has to be controlled
I still don’t get what’s the reason why we can’t have fix rate for the full duration of the mortgage?
Is the journal fffg in disguise ?
Banker rhymes with w##nker
Well I hope its easier then trying to switch a simple current account from Ulster Bank owing to its exit from Ireland
@Mary Garry: I switched from UB to PTSB. I don’t trust the banks to not fuk it up so I opened the new account and transferred the direct debits manually. It’s a bit more effort but not that hard.
It was a nightmare to switch our mortgage. Aside from finding it almost impossible to get talking to a human or to get a callback, from when we put in the application to when it eventually got processed months later the interest rates rose, thereby wiping out any savings achieved by switching. We got the old rate in the end but if a private company was run as inefficiently as the banks they would quickly go out of business.
CCPC or which ever agency has power should be legislating for switching mortgages to be easier. ( not just rates, but providers)
In the USA you can switch mortgage providers in a matter of days. No re-conveyancing, no silly solicitors fees which are very prohibitive.
If switching was easier it would allow for more competition with existing banks and might even encourage new banks to enter the market because they have a shot at attracting current low risk mortgage payers to their books.
@Rmaybe: I was trying to switch to Avant earlier this year. I gave up after being asked for accountant letter, payslips (for the third time) and other docs. Our mortgage is 15 years old, we’re earning twice what we were earning back then and we’ve never missed one payment.
In the end I just contacted my current lender and fixed at their lowest fixed rate. Not quite as good as Avants but soooooo much simpler and no need for solicitors and it took one phone call and one form to sign.
Almost zero choice in mortgage providers. Well done Fine Gael.
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say