Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I and the Taoiseach have stated on a number of occasions, it is a key responsibility of financial institutions to do more to assist those in severe financial difficulties.

Letters threatening repossession or legal action could not be considered a sustainable solution under the mortage arrears targets and should only ever be considered after every possible avenue for a solution has been exhausted. That is the Government's position. The audits will be carried out not by the Government or the Department of Finance but by the Central Bank. They will be presented publicly to the committee of which the Deputy is a member in a transparent manner. He will see exactly what is included and what is not.

See this speech in context