Patrick Honohan, the governor of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, has said the regulator's tough stance on the banking industry is needed given the degree of state support.

"The weakened financial position of the banks and the extensive government guarantee provided to their depositors and other claimants clearly calls for exceptional measures," Honohan said on Tuesday. "There has been greatly intensified and, indeed what has been termed, "intrusive" supervision of