The number of households in arrears on mortgage payments on their homes has fallen by almost one third in less than two years, according to the latest data from the Department of Finance.

Groups working with distressed mortgage holders have welcomed “belated” attempts by the Government to address the mortgage arrears crisis but criticised the lack of detail available so far.

A transgender woman who fought a 21-year battle to have her identity formally recognised has ended her landmark legal case after a commitment from the Government to change the law.

On 31 March of this year the Constitutional Convention recommended to the Government, by an overwhelming majority of 85%, that economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, such as healthcare, housing and social security, be given enhanced protection in the Irish Constitution. 

The number of people inquiring about free legal advice increased last year, with family law issues and credit and debt problems prompting most of the contacts.

It took an “unconscionably long time” for Justice Minister Alan Shatter to correct his Dáil statement on garda whistleblowers, according to Labour’s Pat Rabbitte.

New legislation is being proposed to remove the Government's power to appoint top judges and senior Gardaí.

A number of workplace credit unions have been hardballing borrowers and deducting payments directly from their wages as employees slip further into mortgage arrears.

The Irish credit union movement has pursued members through the courts for debts of nearly €35m over the last three years.

The Free Legal Advice Centre has said that while it welcomes the opening of Ireland's new Insolvency service it does have some concerns.

Half of all people who sought advice from the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) last year needed information regarding family law, money and debt issues.

The fallout from family breakups increasingly dominates the issues people are seeking legal help with, according to a nationwide law centre.

The average family will be left with €1,760 a month to live on under new rules outlining what should be considered reasonable living expenses for people in mortgage distress.

The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) is objecting to a proposed change to the code of conduct on mortgage arrears that would allow banks to increase the number of calls they make to distressed customers.

A further 6,000 households found themselves struggling to pay their mortgages between July and September as the number in arrears over three months jumped to 86,000.

A destitute woman was offered a one-way train ticket to Belfast by social welfare officials after being denied benefits to which she was legally entitled.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has warned struggling borrowers they will be forced to sell engagement rings and family jewellery to pay back banks under debt arrangements proposed in the Personal Insolvency Bill.

AIB mortgage holders in arrears can expect to be contacted by their bank and offered a long-term solution to their debt problems before the end of this month, according to internal correspondence at the bank which has been seen by the Irish Examiner.

The government bill dealing with the mortgage arrears crisis, due for publication shortly, will see the introduction of non-judicial agreements between banks and their customers in a bid to avoid wide-scale repossessions.

An independent, out-of-court debt settlement structure is needed to keep struggling mortgage holders in their homes, a human rights group has said.

The Independent Mortgage Advisers Federation has denied claims by financial adviser Karl Deeter that up to a quarter of mortgage holders in arrears are voluntarily allowing their mortgages to slip towards default.

Some migrants are facing “unfair” treatment when claiming social welfare payments, according to a new report to be launched tomorrow.

MORE than 5,000 people at risk of losing their homes had contacted Focus Ireland in the first seven months of this year — equal to the total number for 2009.

A blanket mortgage debt forgiveness scheme to solve the negative equity crisis would cost €14bn, government advisers have warned.

The Cabinet has approved the publication of a report into mortgage arrears.

A major report to be published later this week by the Council of Europe is expected to criticise Ireland for failing to recognise transgender people.

She started her own practice in the mid-1980s, in the midst of recession. In 2011, not much has changed for Ireland. Now a director of FLAC, Noeline Blackwell still sees first-hand the look of despair on people’s faces, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

New figures show a major increase in the number of mortgages in arrears last year.

BANK OF IRELAND has said that its deposit levels have stabilised over the past couple of months, but it expects operating profits for 2010 to show a 25%-30% drop due to an increase in funding costs.

IF the Government and banks do nothing to help the 30,000 house owners who are having serious difficulties paying their mortgage it could cost more in the long run.

NOT socially acceptable.

TRANSGENDER people are to be allowed have their birth certificates altered to recognise their true gender after the Government finally accepted the law breaches their human rights.

Legislation recognising transgender people in their new identity is set to be introduced after the Government scrapped a Supreme Court appeal.

PEOPLE who owe money are increasingly being intimidated, bullied and harassed by debt collection agencies around which there is no regulation.

PARENTS will have to prove that they live in the country and are entitled to the Children’s Allowance as part of a crackdown on payments to families who are no longer living in Ireland or cannot prove habitual residence here.

The current system for accommodating asylum seekers puts their basic human rights at risk and should be scrapped, campaigners said today.

UP to 300 people are typically jailed each year because they can’t pay fines, but future offenders could escape imprisonment under planned laws.

Reports that the Government is to put plans in place to help mortgage holders struggling to make their repayments have been welcomed

The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) has called on the Government to focus on helping those struggling with debt.

The Free Legal Advice Centre is welcoming the decision by the country's 10 largest lenders to extend the length of time they will allow to pass before pursing legal action over mortgage arrears.

AT least one person was sent to jail every day because they were unable to pay credit card bills or meet loan repayments to banks, credit unions or other lenders in the months following the Government’s rescue of financial institutions.

The Free Legal Advice Centre says it has experienced a four-fold increase in the number of people contacting its helpline for money advice in the first half of this year.

The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) is today calling on the Government to honour its promise to help people struggling with banks debts.