Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

It is one thing to choose the valuer in terms of the possibility of a personal relationship being an influencing factor on the valuation. While that is only a slim possibility, we need to legislate for it. It is another thing to suggest that an issue has arisen in terms of issuing guidelines. When it comes to valuations, we need consistency. If one wants consistency, there must be guidelines in terms of how it is to be calculated. It is stated in my note that allowing the Minister to issue guidelines is an important policy which should ensure uniformity and fairness between different valuation arrangements. It would serve to protect to the overall public interest. This is about ensuring that the valuation process is the same in Buncrana as it is in Ballydehob. It cannot be left up to the valuer to put in place guidelines. There is a need for a clear set of rules to ensure everyone makes their valuation on the same basis. It is no more complex than that.