Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to get into a political spat about this. I accept the genuine views of everybody in this House and I accept that they want this issue resolved for the residents involved. This situation has far-reaching implications nationally as well. Other counties are manifesting mica problems also and the Government has to take all those implications on board. The action we take on mica will have follow-on and consequential implications for other situations in housing so we are conscious of that.

Suffice to say that we accept that for children to grow up in that situation is unacceptable. It is shocking that bricks were produced to that poor quality, which has resulted in dangerous structures and which has ruined the dreams of many families. It is a basic human objective in life to provide safe and secure shelter for one's children and family and that has been ruined for many families because of the mica scandal. It falls to this Government, which has been in office for 15 months. We met the groups concerned during the summer and we are determined to comprehensively resolve this in the interests of the children and families who are picketing outside.

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