The sale or conveyancing of property is a matter that is governed by property and contract law. In addition, the particular terms on which the title or other rights associated with any particular property is conveyed from a seller to a purchaser, including any conditions in relation to the payment and/or return of a deposit, are contractual matters for the parties to the contract.
As Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government I do not have a primary policy function for the law relating to the conveyancing of property or in relation to the operation of private contracts, and I would have no role in intervening in the contractual arrangements entered into by the parties to a particular private contract. The area of contract law is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice and Equality.