Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would take exception with him on that. I have read Ms Fiona Muldoon's comments and, as Professor Honohan said, she has a flowery way of expressing herself. She was extremely direct. She spoke about the banks' lip-service and said she saw too many loan extensions masquerading as solutions. She said that hope was not a strategy any more than anger.

It is not good enough for the Central Bank to be paying lip-service itself, and that is the problem I have. If the Central Bank is going to have a crack at the banks - and Ms Muldoon has done so - it had better back it up with action.

People around the country are coming to us concerning difficulties with their mortgages. Ms Muldoon's speech made the headlines, but I would like the Central Bank to back up those headlines.