Mortgage crisis

It should concern everyone on this island that more than 142,000 home loans are behind in payments.

The Central Bank has pointed out that the number of mortgages more than three months in arrears rose again in the first quarter of the year. Some 12.3% of home loans were more than 90 days behind in payments by the end of March.

These are chastening figures and remind us all of the real stress and hardship that has come to define so many — too many — Irish lives.