Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1080. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will engage with developers holding onto deposits by potential homeowners in circumstances in which due to Covid-19 potential homeowners cannot draw down a mortgage due to job insecurity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11370/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The sale or conveyancing of property is a matter that is governed by property and contract law. In addition, the particular terms on which the title or other rights associated with any particular property is conveyed from a seller to a purchaser, including any conditions in relation to the payment and/or return of a deposit, are contractual matters for the parties to the contract.

As Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government I do not have a primary policy function for the law relating to the conveyancing of property or in relation to the operation of private contracts, and I would have no role in intervening in the contractual arrangements entered into by the parties to a particular private contract. The area of contract law is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice and Equality.