Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty today launched the Interest Rates Approval Bill 2013 at Leinster House.
The bill prevents banks that were bailed out with public money from hiking mortgage interest rates without approval from the financial regulator.
Deputy Doherty said: "Last month when the ECB reduced its interest rates Irish banks did not pass on this change. This is not the first time this has happened.
"Next week AIB is set to increase its variable mortgage rate by 0.4%, its third hike in 12 months.
"In 2011 the government said it would legislate to force banks to pass on ECB rate reductions but it failed to live up to this commitment.
"My bill would prevent banks that were bailed out with public money from hiking mortgage interest rates without approval from the financial regulator.
"The regulator must weigh up not only the interests of the banks but the interests of taxpayers when making a decision on interest rate hikes.
"Furthermore, the government must use any influence it has over these banks as a result of the bailout to protect struggling mortgage holders who footed the bill for the bailout."
(CD)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
22/11/2024
A contract to design the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme in Dublin has been awarded to Jacobs by the City Council. Sandymount is one of the city areas most vulnerable to coastal flooding and is also, separately, at risk from surface water flooding, i.e. run-off from rainfall. The contract ...
22/11/2024
Northern Ireland construction company Farrans has scooped a Highly Commended All-Ireland Occupational Safety Award. The company's SHE team members Joe Loughan and Ryan Carson attended the recent premier event, which were held in the Great Southern Hotel, Killarney, to be presented with a ...
22/11/2024
A 'Back to the 80s' themed charity ball, which was sponsored by a number of construction companies, has helped raise a record-breaking £118,000 profit for WaterAid. The international charity's event was held recently in Titanic Belfast will all of the funds raised going towards the WaterAid ...
22/11/2024
The M3 Lagan Bridge in Belfast will undergo urgent repair work from Tuesday, November 26, in order to replace damaged joints. As a result of the essential requirement to carry out these works, and to ensure the availability of specialist contractors, a series of lane closures will be in place ...
22/11/2024
Scheduled resurfacing works at the Syndenham bypass in Belfast, which were due to continue this weekend, will now not go ahead and the road will remain open. This comes as a result of a yellow Met office warning put in place for part of Saturday. An overnight closure will remain in place between ...
22/11/2024
Works to improve Kinsale's water supply in County Cork are set to commence next week. The project entails the replacement of over 500 metres of old watermains that are prone to frequent bursts and leakage with new modern pipes. The works will be carried out by Ward and Burke Construction Ltd on ...
22/11/2024
The first phase of sewer relining works on the Shore Road in Belfast has been successfully completed ahead of schedule by contractor Murphy Dawson WAM, NI Water has announced. As a result, the road has now fully reopened earlier than anticipated. The work to date has seen over half a kilometre of ...
22/11/2024
Leakage reduction works and water supply improvements to homes and businesses in Dublin 2 have been completed. The works, which were carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by GMC Utilities Group Ltd, involved the replacement of 180 metres of ageing water pipes between the junction of D'Olier ...
22/11/2024
CRH member company Roadstone has completed a major plant and equipment investment at its quarry, aggregates, and concrete products sites in the Republic of Ireland. The equipment – supplied to them by Komatsu and Metso distributors in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales – included Komatsu WA475 and WA600 ...
22/11/2024
A new member has been added to the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland. Mrs Suzanne McCoy has been announced as the latest MAG addition by Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, and will begin her role from December 1, 2024 until ...