Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis

Nexus Phase

Ms Mary O'Dea:

This was not a guideline. Under the law as set out, we were allowed to set out what was called a code, but actually it was enforceable by a fine up to €5 million. So, it was an enforceable code. And that enforceable code was in relation to suitable lending. So, if somebody was getting a mortgage for example, of 35 years that they clearly couldn't afford, then the institution would be in breach of the suitable lending requirement.