Former Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has defended financial services in Ireland from what he called "bank-bashing" and groupthink".

Almost 5,000 mortgages valued at more than €1.1bn were approved in May.

Paul Joyce In recent weeks there has been much discussion surrounding the ‘No Consent, No Sale’ bill proposed by Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty.

Reports of alleged abuse of older people and persons with disabilities increased by almost 30% in the past year, it has emerged.

As many as 2,000 mortgage holders may switch lender in the first six months of the year as brokers experience a surge in consumers looking to avail of cheaper rates.

Earlier this week the housing charity Threshold reported that in 2016 it received more than 71,000 calls, many from people facing destitution.

Earlier this week the housing charity Threshold reported that in 2016 it received more than 71,000 calls, many from people facing destitution. 

The days of jingling pockets are coming to an end. The rounding initiative begun two years ago has already seen the beginning of the end of 1c and 2c coins.

One of the Central Bank’s most senior officials has warned that Ireland is at risk of repeating the catastrophic economic mistakes of the past less than a decade after the country was cast into financial ruin.

The country’s chronic housing shortage is set to persist and push property prices even higher while, at the same time, the Central Bank’s mortgage rules continue to restrict lending to ‘abnormally low’ levels despite a pick-up in April.

The five main banks have been accused of insulting Irish groups which help people in debt by funding a similar British charity to start work here.

New mortgage lending is expected to top €5bn this year with the Central Bank’s new loan restrictions likely to see drawdowns front-loaded in the first half of 2015.