Leo Varadkar: Still time to block sale of distressed PTSB loans

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted there is still time to prevent Permanent TSB from selling 20,000 distressed mortgages to vulture funds despite claiming the Government has no legal right to block the deal.

He said the Government “very much stands on the side of people trying to pay their debts” amid cross-party opposition calls for him to order Nama and banks to “do the right thing” and protect those at risk.

Mr Varadkar came under concerted pressure in the Dáil from Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and Labour over the escalating PTSB crisis.