Updated 10.20am
Bank of Ireland has sparked a social media debate after it posted an ad for its mortgage packages.
The Twitter ad - which has now been deleted - highlighted the case of one couple who moved in with their parents to get enough money together for a deposit.
A post detailing the couple's story was available on the bank's website, but has also been deleted.
Many Twitter users criticised the ad, accusing it of attempting to normalise the financial struggles faced by many young adults.
Several pointed out that rising rents and the housing crisis have created major challenges for young people attempting to save up for a mortgage.
A number of references were made to widely-criticised comments earlier this year, claiming millennials would be able to afford a house if they ate less avocado.
.@bankofireland's deleted tweet is all you need to know about property market & attitudes towards young people. Bin that avocado toast eh? pic.twitter.com/TWUO4O043y
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) August 23, 2017
Banks are doing this because they can. A unimaginative govt that relies solely on market principles enables them. We need to change this.
— Glenn Fitzpatrick (@glennthefitz) August 23, 2017
Other users, however, suggested it was normal behaviour for people to take measures in order to save up for a deposit.
I honestly don't get the outrage here - a couple take measures to save money to buy a house.
Who hasn't done that?— Wayne Kearns (@waynekearns) August 23, 2017
In a statement, Bank of Ireland said: "The ad featured one couple's deposit saving experience, it wasn't intended to cause offence and wasn’t intended as advice for customers."
Karl Deeter of Irish Mortgage Brokers spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about the ad - as well as the situation facing young people.
He argued: "I understand the anger, and I've been writing about it for a long time... [But] there is no alternative. There's no white knight going to come over the hill and save you from the reality - which is sometimes you have to make choices that are difficult in order to get ahead.
"I don't think being angry is going to fix any of that. I actually commend people who make that choice and take the pain of it. And let's be honest - unless you live in a nightmare home, it's not exactly the most painful thing in the world to move home for a while and save."
Dr Ciara Kelly, however, suggested: "There is an inter-generational transfer of wealth from the young in this country - and in other countries - to the older generations who have the big pensions, who have the nice houses - and who are sitting fairly pretty, while young people are working in a gig economy with no security and no prospects."
You can listen back to the interview below:
