Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be meeting our banks to engage with them on the greater role they can play in regard to housing because we all know how much more we need to do. However, I have to recognise two different points. First, the banks are independent of the Government. Second, they are independently regulated. I will be engaging with them to see what further measures we can put in place that lead to more lending and more homes being built. However, I fully respect the independence of the Central Bank, as does the entire Government, because we know the stability of our financial sector is vital to more homes being built in the time ahead. We will consider additional measures, as we always do, in the run up to the budget from an investment point of view and also in the context of the review of the national development plan that is taking place.

See this speech in context