THE governing body of auctioneers has denied any knowledge of its members sharing confidential information with mortgage brokers in order to inflate property prices.

QUESTIONS were raised last night about a €600,000 taxpayers bill for a “toothless” government agency set up to protect property buyers and owners.

Fine Gael wants to see statutory powers given to the National Property Services Regulatory Authority.

The Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute, which represents about 2,000 qualified auctioneers, has called on the Government to fast-track the promised Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill, first introduced in 2006.

NEW legislation paving the way for the revocation of rogue auctioneers’ licences will be published in a matter of weeks.