Shane Ross (Independent)

The second point is important and also concerns auctioneers. The week before last a court found an auctioneering firm at fault for misdeclaring in its brochure the size of a commercial property, resulting in an award against the firm of €350,000. Its defence illustrates what a scourge auctioneers can be in this society. The company said it had included a get-out clause in the brochure stating that it was not responsible for anything incorrect shown therein. That is a ridiculous situation, meaning a firm of auctioneers can tell as many untruths as it likes as long as it puts a disclaimer at the bottom of its brochure. It is time for legislation to be introduced in this House to regulate this group of cowboys who have done such destruction to the housing market.