Government are facilitating repossessions while denying they are happening – Ellis
Sinn Féin
TD and Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis has called on Minister Noonan and his
government to do more to stop home repossessions following reports today that
7101 bills for repossession had been lodged in Irish courts. He was responding
to comments by Minister Noonan which dismissed the danger of wide-spread
repossessions in the near future despite these worrying figures.
Deputy Ellis said:
“Government policy facilitates
the repossession of Family Homes but they are refusing to recognise the very
real danger presented by thousands of repossession bills being lodged in last
year. Repossessions of family homes have increased steadily and they are
failing completely to deal with the crisis.”
“According to Central Bank
figures, there are 37,778 homes in the most serious of arrears, these families
are the most likely to be facing legal actions in the future. This is almost
double the figure from September 2012.”
“There is no recovery when people are losing their family home and have nowhere to go, saddled with massive debt. The government must act to help these mortgage holders to keep in their family home and tackle the banks bullying and intimidating ordinary people who paid for their bailout.”
“We have had four years of almost complete inaction on this issue, what little was done was all too ineffective.”
“Group like New Beginnings and the IMHO believe that as many as 25,000 repossessions could be lodged if nothing is done. This cannot be allowed to happen.”
“A recovery would mean dealing with the tens of thousands of families in mortgage distress. Sinn Féin demand the removal of the veto from the banks and greater protection to family homes.”