An upcoming EU vote on a defective concrete blocks report has been described as a crucial opportunity to give the Irish government a “wake-up call” about the flaws in the redress scheme.
This Tuesday, the European Parliament Committee on Petitions will vote on a report from a fact-finding mission to Ireland last year investigating the use of defective blocks.
Pictured: Delegation from the European Parliament’s Petition’s Committee on fact-finding mission to Ireland: Maria Walsh MEP, Colm Markey MEP, Ms Dolors Montserrat MEP (Chair of the PETI Committee / Head of the delegation), Ms Tatjana Ždanoka MEP, Chris MacManus MEP (Sinn Féin) and Luke Flanagan MEP
Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands Northwest, Chris MacManus, said the vote is an opportunity to highlight the ” serious limitations of this latest defective concrete block scheme and to finally deliver a genuine 100% redress scheme”.
MacManus said: “Homeowners who have been affected by the scandal of defective concrete blocks feel badly let down by government. They must be treated fairly and their concerns must be listened to. I am determined to stand up for these homeowners and ensure that their concerns are acted on.
“I along with a number of MEP colleagues attended a fact-finding mission of the European Parliament late last year. As a result of this visit the European Parliament Committee on Petitions has drafted a report on the defective blocks scandal. There have been a number of amendments added to this report by a number of groups in the European Parliament, including the Left Group, of which Sinn Féin are members.
“The entire country has been outraged by the treatment of our families living in defective concrete block homes. Their pursuit of justice and 100% redress is something we in Sinn Féin fully support and it is my hope that the European Parliament Committee on Petitions vote through a progressive report on Tuesday.
“I will continue to fight for the homeowners affected to ensure that they are treated fairly.”
