Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is absolutely right about this. This is unusual practice but does happen. It is not the norm but is very much a tactic, a marketing device, used to create attention for a particular development. It happened in times of copious supply; it is happening at a time of limited supply. It is often the case that there are more bidders for a house than can buy the house, even a single house, but one does not ask people to queue up outside. That is not a good way to treat people. I am not sure if we can do anything under the regulations but I am aware of the issue, as is the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. We will examine any proposals around consumer protections that might be able to stop this practice from happening again.

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