Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Bank profits and the interests of bankers should not be allowed to dictate access to housing in this country, yet that is the direction in which the Government is going. The announcement this morning that the Government plans to sell off the State's remaining shares in Bank of Ireland means that the bottom line will become an even greater focus within that bank and that profit will be the driver to an even greater extent. This is bad news for banking jobs, young people trying to get a loan or a mortgage and those who seriously want to tackle the housing crisis.

Having said that solving the housing crisis is the priority of Government, how can the Taoiseach now justify putting access to loans, mortgages and housing 100% within Bank of Ireland into the hands of those who are concerned only about the bottom line and the maximisation of profit?

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