The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, will today open the inaugural conference of the Property Services Regulatory Authority at the Croke Park Meetings and Events Centre. This one day conference, titled “Property Services: Facing the Future”, will explore the future of the property services sector following almost seven years of regulation of the sector.
The conference also marks the launch of a report on ‘first of its kind’ research on the lived experience of regulation in the Irish property sector. The Report, ‘The Impact of Regulation on the Property Services Sector’, is based on input from over 1,200 licensees of the Property Services Regulatory Authority, as well as a number of individual follow-up interviews. Dr Róisín Murphy, author of the Report, will present her findings at the conference on the impact of regulation from the perspective of those directly affected by it, licencees.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Minister Flanagan said: “I am very pleased to be attending the inaugural conference of the Property Services Regulatory Authority. I am particularly pleased to note the positive engagement by licencees with this Report which will be of significant value in informing both future policy and the strategic direction of the property services sector”.
Throughout the day, the conference sessions will focus on key areas of interest for licencees, including; ethical conduct, mediation, anti-money laundering, protection of business interests, consumer protection and professional development. The issue of Brexit will also be addressed by guest speaker Mr Mark Hayward, CEO of the National Association of Estate Agents in the UK.
Looking ahead to the event, Ms Maeve Hogan, CEO of the Property Services Regulatory Authority, stated: “We are delighted today to host our inaugural conference. This event provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the significant work that has been achieved to date in regulating the property services sector, while also looking to the future to ensure continuing professionalism and effective regulation of the sector.”
Over 300 licencees from across the country are attending the event, along with representatives from relevant sectoral bodies. The event is also being livestreamed to facilitate licencees from across the country who wish to engage directly with the conference on the day.
Notes to the Editor:
Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA)
- The Property Services Regulatory Authority was established on 3rd April 2012 pursuant to the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 (the Act) and is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the property services sector in Ireland.
- The PSRA is independent in the exercise of its functions.
- The PSRA is chaired by Ms. Geraldine Clarke, Solicitor, and its membership includes property services sector and consumer interest representatives.
- The Chief Executive Officer of the PSRA is Ms Maeve Hogan.
- There are approximately 5,800 licences issued throughout the country.
- In 2018, the PSRA rolled out a programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) which is delivered regionally.
- Licence application are made online through licences.ie and the full suite of licence application types will be available online by the end of March 2019.
- Further information is available at www.psr.ie
Speakers on the day include:
JP McDowell, McDowell Purcell Solicitors
Maeve Hogan, PSRA
Mark Hayward, NAEA Propertymark
Dr. Róisín Murphy, TU Dublin
Janette Fogarty, RTB
Dr. Patricia Barker, DCU
Det. Supt. Gearóid Begley, Criminal Assets Bureau
Niamh Davenport, Banking and Payments Federation Ireland
David Hall, Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation
Liz Pope, Property Registration Authority