Whether or not the Government takes any notice of the IAVI, it won't stop the auctioneers enjoying themselves at their annual dinner next Saturday in Dublin's Burlington Hotel. For many, this is the highlight the year, particularly for younger members who don't generally bother with the annual conference. The champagne-soaked event is often seen as the beginning of the pre-Christmas festivities, which should be something better following yet following another highly profitable 12 months' trading.

All the gossip will be about whether the market can come back with a bang in the New Year, despite the cooling off in prices over the past month. The agents will not be able to fold their tents yet, because there are a huge number of houses still on the market with buyers more reluctant than ever to bite.