Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis

Nexus Phase

Ms Mary O'Dea:

Absolutely. When 100% mortgages were introduced, we issued new information in relation to that. We warned consumers about negative equity and how you could build up negative equity in relation to that, and we talked about affordability. But I will also say, Chair, that at the time of the 100% mortgages, when they were introduced and the discussion, I actually felt it was the wrong discussion, because there were 80% mortgages that people couldn't afford, and that the issue was really about affordability. And there may be some people who had, you know, many means that could afford 100% but the issue to me, from a consumer perspective, was much more about affordability.