Bailed-out Bank of Ireland today announced almost 58,000 homeowners are to be hit with a hike in interest rates for the second time this year.

Bank of Ireland is to increase its variable interest mortgage rate by 0.45% from next Tuesday, August 10, the bank announced today.

A warning has been issued that predicted increases in mortgage interest rates will push many homebuyers into debt.

Trade union Mandate today called on members of the public not to verbally and physically abuse Permanent TSB staff following the mortgage lenders' interest rate hike.

Permanent TSB's controversial hike in variable mortgage interest rates is due to take effect from today.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan today claimed Permanent TSB’s mortgage rate hike, which increases monthly repayments by up to €70, showed the benefits of the State bank guarantee scheme.

The UNITE trade union says its members in Permanent TSB branches have been bearing the brunt of customer anger over its planned increase to its variable interest rate.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has the power to stop Permanent TSB increasing its standard variable mortgage interest rate.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan appears to have ruled out government intervention to prevent Permanent TSB from increasing mortgage interest rates.

The president of Ireland's largest trade union is calling for government action to prevent Irish banks hiking their mortgage interest rates.

Permanent TSB has announced plans to increase mortgage interest rates for around 50,000 of its customers.