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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Variable mortgage rates

Summary

After light-hearted exchanges, Senator Coghlan examines the gap between European Central Bank rates and standard variable mortgages, noting AIB’s indication that it may reduce rates and expecting rival banks to follow.

It is a bit rich to hear Senator Daly talk about elusiveness in light of his own history. His colleagues have found it difficult to track him down on occasions.

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The Senator has my mobile phone number so he can call me whenever he wants.

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We should park that.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

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I have of course.

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I can sit down for a cup of coffee with the Senator if he has a problem.

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There has been and there is concern about the gap between the European Central Bank rate and the standard variable mortgage rate. Some of us have been questioning AIB, Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland at the recent hearings of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform. We should state honestly that there are four component parts. AIB has indicated strongly that it will provide for a decrease in the near future. In light of the switching that would be likely to take place in such circumstances, do Senators believe that Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland would fail to follow AIB in that regard? In fairness to both of them, they did not state firmly at the 2 p.m. and 4.15 p.m. sessions of yesterday's meeting of the joint committee that there would not be any change - they said they would keep the matter under review and would monitor it. I have no doubt that we will see changes there very quickly.

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We will keep the Senator to his word.

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