Ireland will need to turn to "bailed out" Nama developers to tackle our escalating housing crisis, despite the fact the vast majority have failed to repay billions of euro they still owe to the State.

A state body specifically tasked with giving technical financial advice to the Government was locked out of discussions with ministers on the night of the bank guarantee, and had just “90 seconds” to raise concerns.

More than 18,000 mortgage holders are still awaiting clarification over the level of protection to be afforded them under proposed legislation as a row over the detail of the bill rumbles on.

The General Secretary of the Department of Finance, John Moran, will meet the PAC today despite the announcement of his resignation yesterday.

Ireland should make more use of the European Investment Bank in the battle to get more credit flowing to private enterprise and the SME sector, in particular, according to Department of Finance chief John Moran.

The Government has agreed strict quarterly targets for banks to restructure distressed mortgages ahead of an expected wave of repossessions.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called on the banks to act now and negotiate deals with struggling mortgage holders ahead of new debt relief measures coming into force next March.

The Cabinet is due to discuss a report from an independent expert today on the fee to be paid to GPs for treating people over 70 who retain their medical card after the recently announced Budget cuts.

THE row between Greencore and farmers over the €145 million EU compensation package for exiting sugar processing has taken a further twist as Minister of State at the Department of Finance Tom Parlon has backed the case for maximum EU compensation.