MEP welcomes EU interest in pyrite issue
MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has welcomed a new EU draft report on the defective concrete block problem.
An Irish MEP believes a new report will be game-changing from homeowners impacted by pyrite and mica.
"The European Parliament’s Petitions Committee gave thousands of Irish homeowners, affected by defective concrete products, a lot of hope in the last week," said MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.
“This report will bring us a paradigm shift, it will help us come up with a definitive solution for the people who are suffering," he added.
An EU delegation recently visited Donegal to see the scale of the problem."The chair of the Committee Dolores Montserrat explained why the mission to Ireland was so important. She said that - 'We did not want to let Irish people down.'
She also stated that - 'This is for the future; never again can this happen in Ireland but also in the other States.' Given that there is evidence that defective concrete products have only recently been used in the construction of yet another house then this statement is particularly significant," said Mr Flanagan.
He believes the draft report into the issue will see a 'paradigm shift' and highlights how much importance the EU Parliament places on the issue.
"What has appeared in the draft report shows that the mission to Donegal has been taken seriously by the European Parliament When I was first approached three years ago by affected homeowners I suggested that they try this route. I’ve had a previous positive experience with the committee with regard to another constituent, a whistle-blower called Julie Grace. At this week's committee, the chair said that in relation to those affected and the committee in general that - 'This is the bridge between European citizens and the European institutions I am sure we are going to all together going to shift the solutions and give you answers.' Following the strong recommendations made in the draft report that statement is indeed proving to be true," said the MEP.
"What has appeared in the draft report shows that the mission to Donegal has been taken seriously by the European Parliament. The report explodes the myth that the grant scheme is fit for purpose. Something that the Irish government has been attempting to imprint on public opinion. This lie has now been thoroughly debunked. What makes this all the more significant is that it is being said by an MEP who inhabits the same political family as Fine Gael. It shows that some politicians can actually put people before politics," he added.
