The People Before Profit Alliance today condemned the decision of Irish Life and Permanent to increase variable interest rates from Monday. PBPA is calling on the public to show their disgust with IL&P by picketing their O Connell St branch from 12 to 2pm next Monday. The Alliance called on the public to organise pickets on other branches of IL&P at the same time.
Councillor Brid Smith said “My phone has been hopping all day. The people I represent are angry that their mortgage repayments are being increased when many of them have lost their jobs or have had wage cuts imposed on them. Anyone with a job is paying extra in levies. The people running Irish Life and Permanent have no idea how difficult it is for people to manage in current circumstances. The government needs to tell IL&P that this decision has to be reversed. The public should show their anger at this disgraceful decision by picketing IL&P next Monday”.
Councillor Richard Boyd Barrett said “This institution owes its existence to the taxpayer. Without the guarantees provided by the taxpayer is would go out of business. Now it wants to increase profits on the backs of taxpayers. This bank is putting profit before people. We have called for the banks to be nationalised and the banking system that serves the needs of people. Brian Lenihan is a disgrace. He is not even prepared to give them a slap on the hand for imposing misery on ordinary families. He has effectively given the green light to other mortgage lenders to increase their rates”.
The IL&P is located at 12/13 Lower O Connell Street, Dublin 1.
ENDS
For more information contact
Eddie Conlon 087 6775468,
Cllr Brid Smith 087 9090166
Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett 087 6329511