Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Finance the action he is taking, or requesting the Financial Regulator to take with respect to the high rates being charged by Permanent TSB on their variable rate mortgages. [5653/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the lending institutions in Ireland, including those in which the State has a substantial shareholding are independent commercial entities. Neither the Central Bank nor I have the power to compel the financial institution referred to by the Deputy to reduce its mortgage interest rate. However, the Central Bank have advised me that, within its existing powers, it will continue to engage with specific lenders which appear to have standard variable rates set disproportionate to their cost of funds.

Ultimately the pricing of financial products, including standard variable mortgage interest rates, is a commercial decision for the management team and board of each lending institution, having due regard to their customers and the impact on profitability, particularly where the cost of funding to each lending institution, including deposit pricing, is under pressure.