Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Over the weekend we had yet another devastating blow for aviation. When will we see a comprehensive response from the Government? This has not come out of the blue. We have had disgraceful dithering on antigen testing, along with unacceptable uncertainty for a vital sector in this country. We need to see a comprehensive response from the Government.

I also want to raise the mica crisis in Inishowen and other parts of the north west. I have been going to Carndonagh regularly for almost 17 years as my husband is from there. I have never before seen the depth of anger, frustration and desperation among so many in the community about this issue. Hundreds of families have been left to fend for themselves with their houses crumbling around them due to no fault of their own. We need to have a scheme that provides 100% redress. Thousands are planning to come to Dublin tomorrow to make that point to the Government. We had a scheme put in place for pyrite. We had a lesser scheme put in place for mica, which is not acceptable. The 90% offered in that scheme is not enough. It does not even cover the rent that people will need to pay for other accommodation when their houses are being done up. It also does not pay for the expert reports.

The second key issue involved is that it is not acceptable that a company that sold faulty blocks cannot be held to account because the statute of limitations for product liability is confined to ten years. There is much frustration in the communities affected. We see graffiti and hear stories of workers being intimidated. No worker should ever be subjected to that. However, we now need to channel that anger and frustration into ensuring that companies are held to account and that the statute of limitations is looked at. We cannot have a situation where companies fold, evade their responsibilities and simply set up another building materials supply company. This is crucial for this community and others across the north west. I hope the Government will act as soon as possible.