TDs back Gilmore in ‘no’ to debt relief

LABOUR backbenchers rolled in behind party leader Eamon Gilmore after he rejected suggestions by fellow Cabinet members for a wide-scale debt relief scheme for distressed mortgage holders.

A split emerged this week among Labour Cabinet members over continued calls for some sort of debt forgiveness system for troubled borrowers.

While Social Protection Minister Joan Burton and Housing Minister Willie Penrose both indicated support for consideration of a universal relief scheme, the Tánaiste ruled it out.