Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh said she did not propose or support controversial amendments to the EU report into Ireland’s defective concrete scandal.
Ms Walsh has today responded to criticism of changes proposed by the European People’s Party, the group that Fine Gael is a part of in the European Parliament.
The amendments were made by German MEP Peter Jahr, and Ms Walsh said she was neither consulted about the proposed changes nor would support them.
These changes to the report would add suggestions that would give protection to Governments if a similar situation with defective blocks happened again within an EU country.
Ms Walsh said: “I completely agree with the six recommendations outlined in this draft report. We need to move forward with both the support of the European Parliament and input from the Commission if we are to achieve 100% redress for the families and homeowners affected.
“I believe the original text is comprehensive and that the recommendations are strongly in favour of those affected and therefore I did not table any amendments to this report. A German MEP in the EPP has submitted these amendments without my knowledge or without consulting me or my office beforehand.
“I do not have a vote in the Petitions Committee, so I will not vote on any of the amendments tabled myself. However, I do not support the wording proposed that the crisis has a ‘force majeure nature’.
“I will contact the EPP Members with voting rights in the Petitions Committee and lobby them to reject this amendment ahead of the vote.
“It’s important to stress that NO Irish MEPs sit on this Committee.”
Ms Walsh and Colm Markey MEP were lambasted by Left Wing Luke “Ming” Flanagan MEP for the tabled amendments to the report, which is based on a fact-finding mission to Ireland last year.
Ms Walsh said she wishes to be clear on her support for the immediate need for 100% redress, adding that Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is ambitious and comprehensive but must be improved to address homeowners’ concerns.
“The current Scheme is not enough,” she said.
“We need to move forward with both the support of the European Parliament and input from the Commission if we are to achieve 100% redress for the families and homeowners affected.”
The mission report will form the official position of the European Parliament on the mica and pyrite crisis in Ireland.
“Once the report is adopted I will send it to Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, as well as Taoiseach Leo Varadker to ensure that they are aware of the official position of Parliament and ask how they intend to enact the recommendations within the report and what the next steps must be,” Ms Walsh said.
