David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Many homeowners are experiencing sharp and sudden hikes in interest rates. The vulture fund, Pepper, has warned borrowers it will hike interest rates again, with many now facing mortgage repayments which are as much as €3,500 higher than last year. It is now clear that the assurances made by Ministers that those whose mortgages were sold to vulture funds would be no worse off were false. In the months ahead, these homeowners will face further rate hikes and higher mortgage repayments. Fianna Fáil championed mortgage interest relief in 2017. Its Minister for Finance introduced legislation to cap interest rates in 2016. It has since, unfortunately, done a U-turn on both. Will the Tánaiste outline what measures the Government will take to address this issue? Will the Government consider Sinn Féin's proposal to introduce targeted and temporary mortgage interest relief until the end of the year?

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