I, too, welcome the visitors to the Gallery. Knocking on doors in both Dublin and Galway in recent weeks has been very useful to keep abreast of different challenges facing people and keep the finger on the pulse. As we know, one of the great issues of the day is housing. One of the suggestions that was raised with me, and one I would like the Minister for housing and the Government generally to consider, relates to the whole process of buying a home where first-time buyers and others trying to purchase a forever home enter into a competition with no clear end in sight in terms of the final asking price. In other countries around Europe the asking price is the asking price and it is acceptable to the seller. Once it is reached, the deal is done, whereas here in Ireland the process is different and there is a constant bidding war. This creates huge stress and pressure for people as there is a lack of clarity on how much it will cost to buy a forever home. People engage with mortgage providers thinking they can afford to buy a home at a certain asking price but when they begin to engage in the process, they are constantly outbid. If an asking price is communicated to someone selling residential property, it would be logical and fair that it be agreed and protected for a period of 90 days, for example, in order to protect people going through the mortgage process or trying to buy a home.

I would welcome a debate on this proposal with the Minister for housing to consider and discuss it further. It would require support from the Government. It has been raised with me on the doors and by friends who are trying to buy an apartment or a home and are encountering a process whereby the asking price is just a hook to get people engaged in a process. It raises and then dashes people's hopes because the final price for purchasing the home is far greater than the initial asking price. I would welcome if the Minister considered my proposal, which would be welcomed by people trying to buy their forever home.