Banks have ‘legal rights’ says Justice Minister

Banks have legitimate rights when it comes to dealing with people trapped in mortgage misery, a Cabinet minister has insisted.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald also signalled Fine Gael opposition to Labour’s push to cut bankruptcy terms to one year.

Defending why it has taken the Government so long to bring in an element of an independent review in the restructuring of mortgages, Ms Fitzgerald insisted the interest of lenders needed to be considered as well.