Watchdog to clamp down on rogue auctioneers

THE Government has agreed to clamp down on rogue auctioneering practices through a new industry watchdog with extensive powers of investigation and sanction.

The new €3 million regulator, to be funded by auctioneer licence fees, will be responsible for licensing all auctioneers and policing a stringent set of guidelines.

The move follows a year-long consultation process by the Government’s Auctioneering/Estate Agency Review Group, which yesterday published 42 recommendations aimed at addressing identified concerns.