Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I welcome the passing of the Bill which is long overdue. This is an area in which the interests of consumers have been unprotected for too long and, as the Minister said, the sector has been largely unregulated until now. We, therefore, welcome the Bill and its companion measure, the Multi-Unit Developments Bill which will improve the situation of apartment owners and residents. However, an important reform is not contained in either Bill. When I raised the matter on Committee Stage, the Minister said he had concerns about data protection issues, although it was included in the programme for Government and would be, perhaps, the last stage in reform of this sector in the interests of consumers. It would involve the publication of house purchase prices in a publicly accessible register, as happens in other jurisdictions. This would be a way of ensuring greater transparency in the housing market. However, that is a reform for consideration on another day. I welcome the Bill.