Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 65: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will be meeting with the banks, as he did in November 2011, to discuss their plans to pass on the recent European Central Bank rate reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34207/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not intend to meet the banks to discuss their plans in relation to the recent interest rate reduction. The lending institutions in Ireland are independent commercial entities. 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.

Neither the Central Bank nor I have any responsibility for the variable mortgage interest rate charged by the financial institutions. I have no powers to compel the institutions to reduce their rates.