Mortgage holders left in the dark overdebt plan

The Taoiseach has left homeowners in the dark over planned laws to help those in mortgage arrears — despite briefing bankers on the issue.

Enda Kenny held a press conference on the mortgage crisis yesterday and refused to answer key questions on the Personal Insolvency Bill, including whether or not it would allow banks to veto debt forgiveness for home owners with unsustainable mortgages.

Hours later, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Finance Minister Michael Noonan, and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin met with representatives from four banks to discuss the bill, which was approved by the Cabinet yesterday and will be published on Friday.