Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. Policy might change in the future, in which case the regulatory environment would change. As a result, the regulator would have to be directed in that instance to regulate for the new reality. I cannot foresee why I would want to change a standard at present, but it could be the case that the policy on housing bodies might change in the future. That would change the position for the regulator. I would not be interfering with the independence of the operation of the regulator, but the regulator would have to change to keep up with policy if it is changed in such a way that would require a change in one of the standards relating to, for example, governance. Hypothetically, and perhaps I should not say it because it might bother some of the AHBs, one might feel it is necessary to have more than the current number of directors and one might wish to change that standard for whatever reason. I will not speculate because that is not helpful. That would require the Minister to direct the regulator to change the standards.