Mortgage spiral ‘an emergency’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny came under heavy fire in the Dáil for failing to deal with the “national emergency” of spiralling mortgage debt.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin insisted lack of Government action was putting further pressure on struggling families.

Mr Kenny hit back by saying that the attitude of banks towards cutting deals with mortgage holders in distress was largely to blame for the situation.