Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has accused the Central Bank of forcing people into rental accommodation rather than home ownership.

Mr Martin launched the astonishing attack on the financial regulator and also targeted the Department of Housing with just days to go before the country goes to the polls.

Speaking to Independent.ie's 'Floating Voter' podcast, he said: "The Central Bank and other elites in society believe that everybody should have been renting."

Within days of potentially becoming Taoiseach, Mr Martin said this view has had a direct influence on Fine Gael's housing policy.