Calls have been made to the Irish Justice Minister to clarify the new laws on property auctions.

Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan has sought answers on the bill, which aims to regulate the auctioneering profession.

The Property Services (Regulation) Bill was first debated in Seanad Éireann last May, but has been allowed to languish ever since, according to Senator Coghlan.

"In particular I am seeking clarification on the status of the Designate Regulator, Tom Lynch, and a number of staff who have been decentralised to modern offices in Navan, Co Meath," he said.

-- Advertisement --

"The recent report by An Bord Snip Nua recommended that the regulatory authority should now be merged with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) which registers all private rents.

"It’s understood that the merger will now be considered by the Minister for Finance in his preparations for Budget 2010."

The Senator has raised the current status of this Bill in the Seanad and it appears the state is willing to "let this bill die when the Government falls".

"What we need is an immediate clarification from Minister Dermot Ahern as to his intentions in regard to this Bill and the current Designate Regulator and staff in Navan, he said.

"To say nothing and allow the current situation to drift on aimlessly is simply not acceptable. It is just another example of the state of incompetence an inability in which this Government increasingly finds itself."

(PR/BMCC)