Irish Mortgages have higher rates than rest of Eurozone

First-time buyers are being stung with rates that are 0.5pc higher than other countries 
using the euro, new figures from the Central Bank show. This means a homeowner in Ireland with a €200,000 mortgage will pay about €600 a year more than in other countries….  A lack of competition in the Irish market is has been blamed for the high charges.Deputy chairman of the Consumers’ Association Michael Kilcoyne said banks were exploiting the fact that there was little competition in the market following the closure of a number of retail banks 
since the financial collapse in 2008.”There is no competition 
between the banks. They are doing what they like. The Minister for Finance and the Central Bank should intervene to make it fairer for consumers.”

‘Irish Independent’ 9th August 2014