Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Our amendment No. 8 would have removed the exemption conferred on local authorities by the definition currently in the Bill. We believe the exclusion of local authorities is not in the best interests of the consumer, which is the purpose this Bill purports to champion. I assure the Minister that I welcome this legislation since it increases the rights and protections enjoyed by consumers in dealing with auctioneers and estate agents. That is good news for all of us.

The amendments we propose are small in number and are only being tabled in the spirit of strengthening protections for consumers. We did not believe that the exclusion of local authorities was in the best interests of the consumer. The Society of Chartered Surveyors has suggested something similar. I support amendment No. 7 which provides for a more specific definition of the meaning of "property service" than the definition currently in the Bill. Will the Minister consider taking on board the spirit of amendment No. 8? I am not sure why the two amendments are grouped together, although I accept that amendment No. 8 relates to part of section 2 which will be changed by amendment No. 7. However, the amendments are quite different and aim to do different things.