The Government is examining the implications of a High Court ruling against a couple over a change of price in a house sale, the Taoiseach said. Mr Ahern added that no legislation was planned at this stage.

On Monday, a couple who agreed to buy a new house "off the plans" for £129,000 in Tallaght, Dublin, last October, and who were told in February that the price had risen to £165,000, failed in the High Court to compel sale at the original price.

Mr Ahern said it appeared that central to the judgment was the absence of a signed contact. He was replying to Mr Pat Rabbitte (DL, Dublin South West) who asked if any legislation was contemplated to avoid a situation "where builders are circumventing the provisions of normal contract law".