Mica and pyrite activist groups from five provinces have teamed up to form a new political party with the intention of running candidates for the next local and general elections.
In a statement released this afternoon, the groups said they formed the party to “fight for justice for victims of inadequate housing across Ireland”.
It comes as a joint statement from the Donegal Mica Action Group, Mayo Pyrite Action Group, Clare Pyrite Action Group, Limerick Pyrite Action Group and Sligo Pyrite Action Group was read into the report at Dáil Éireann last week.
The groups said that shared statement outlined the “crystal clear position of the affected homeowners” toward the government’s planned recovery plan.
“A outright rejection of the proposed scheme for defective concrete blocks unless the amendments are approved, a condemnation of the irresponsible and unnecessarily rushed legislative process designed to stifle debate, and an outline of the contemporary treatment of affected homeowners by this government and its officials,” said the minister. said groups.
Yesterday, the activist groups registered their intention to form a political party with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Leinster House.
Affected homeowners, with their lives devastated by this outrageous injustice, have appealed to their local heads of government for parliamentary support. However, it is clear that those with the clout to help refuse to do so and are indifferent to the fate of their ailing voters,” the groups said this afternoon.
“The words and pledges of government ministers and TDs about this crisis are being revealed as empty platitudes. The events of the past week, in particular, have exposed the TDs’ true colors and allegiances – and that is not to their people.
“Our intention is to allow candidates in all affected provinces to participate in local and national elections. Four counties are now on the Defective Concrete Block Scheme. However, based on our research, we know that this problem has occurred in 13 provinces so far.
“We will contact victims in these other affected provinces to form activist groups and ask each group to work under the umbrella of this new political party. We will also contact activists fighting in our cities for the recovery of thousands of victims. defective apartments and townhouses.
“We will now mobilize our campaign to recruit candidates in each of the 13 affected provinces and major cities and we are confident that we will succeed.
“This is the time for all those who are suffering as a result of ineffective government ‘light-touch’ regulation and corporate failure to come together to demand justice, and to restore our homes, property and lives.”
The statement also accused politicians in the affected provinces of “putting their parties above their people”.
“We have exhausted all avenues of cooperation with the local and national government to no avail. We have given the government every opportunity to work with us to resolve this plan, it is now clear that we must take the necessary steps to to resolve this yourself,” the statement reads. added.
Thousands of homes across the country are crumbling due to mica, a mineral that turns spongy concrete blocks, and the government recently signed a €2.7 billion repair plan capped at €420,000 per home.