Call on govt to end repossessions and evictions

A public meeting is being held in Dublin on Sunday to discuss the issue of mortgage arrears.

At present there are almost 50,000 mortgage holders in arrears with a further 30,000 who have restructured their mortgages.

The United Left Alliance TDs are calling on the Government to end the practice of repossessions and evictions.

The meeting is being supported by the legal group New Beginning, which has provided free representation in the courts to those under threat of eviction.

At a meeting in Dublin this morning New Beginning urged the Government to prevent sub-prime lenders from operating in the State.

The Group says it is not asking for debt forgiveness, but that mortgage holders in difficulty should be allowed to extend the period of their mortgage without paying a penalty.

The meeting will take place in the Red Cow Hotel on Sunday from 1pm where legal and financial advice will be given free of charge.