Bruton: Govt unaware of Ulster Bank data on 'strategic' defaults

The Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has said the Government does not have the information that has led Ulster Bank to claim 35% of its mortgages in default are "strategic".

It follows claims by the Bank's boss Jim Brown that "people who can pay, won't pay".

The Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has demanded in the Dáil that the Coalition offer greater protection to homeowners in arrears.

Minister Bruton said the Government is unaware of the information Ulster Bank is using to make its claim.

He said: "The question as to whether we can agree with Ulster Bank on claims, clearly we do not know the data in respect to Ulster Bank and the claims they are making.

"What we have put in place is a requirement to have 50% of people who are in difficulties with sustainable solutions developed by the end of the year, and that is overseen independently by the Central Bank."