Madam, - Charles McLaughlin (September 23rd) makes a very good point. Like him, I question the motives behind the construction lobby's attempts to make the Irish Government a sub-prime mortgage lender to people whose banks will not lend them the necessary money to buy a house. If banks are unwilling to lend some people money, it's because they believe they are a bad risk. Why is the Government being persuaded that becoming a sub-prime lender is a risk worth taking?
Will the Government step in the next time a bank refuses someone a car loan? Or a loan for their next holiday? If not, why not? What's the difference? If a bank refuses me a loan for a car, I don't expect to go to the Department of Finance and ask them to give me a dig-out.
There is no fundamental right to buy a house, despite what the construction lobby is telling us, any more than there's a fundamental right to own a car or take a holiday every six months. - Yours, etc,
Dr JAMES PUGH, Rathmines, Dublin 6.