The regulation of auctioneers and estate agents as proposed by a Government working group would be a welcome move, according to the main organisation representing the profession.
The group's report presented to the Minister for Justice recommended the establishment "as a matter of urgency" of a new statutory auctioneers and estate agents regulatory authority.
The group, which spent a year examining the profession, also recommended restricting the setting of unrealistic guide prices for houses.
Alan Cooke of the Irish Auctioneers & Valuers Institute (IAVI) said a proposal for a regulator of the industry was very much the thrust of the IAVI's submissions to the same working group. The IAVI became involved in self-regulation and education because of the inaction of the Government, he said.
The institute was founded in 1922, and as far back as 1936 the IAVI was advocating a regulator, he said. The Auctioneers and House Agents Act, however, was not brought in until 1947. It was still the legislation under which the profession operated, and the IAVI played an important role in its enactment. However, the Government did not take on board the recommendation for a regulator.
The IAVI has 1,800 members and associate members. In its mission statement it says its role is to serve the interests of its members and the profession as well as to safeguard those of the public.
It has called for legislation to be completely revamped to take account of modern selling methods such as internet auctions, the selling of overseas property by Irish-based firms and the operation of foreign-based companies offering property to the Irish market.
"One of the goals of the IAVI has always been the introduction and enforcement of proper standards of education throughout the entire profession," it said.