The most significant finding in the ESRI study is that 14% of respondents felt they had been the subject of ghost bids. No bidding process can function efficiently – for buyer and seller – if one-third of the participants think they are being cheated. That said, the PSRA’s figures have to be taken at face value and “nothing to see here” would appear to be the conclusion on ghost bids. But the problem is that perception has trumped reality (as defined by the PSRA figures) when it comes to ghost bidding. It must reassure people that the bidding process is credible.

Source: The Irish Times February 11, 2026 13:32 UTC