Thousands Protest Mica Crisis in Dublin
Eimear Smith
Thousands traveled to Dublin yesterday to demand 100% redress from the Irish Government for hundreds of Donegal, Mayo, Limerick and Sligo homeowners whose houses are affected by mica. Despite a governmental majority promise of no less than 100% redress this summer, the current proposal offers only 90% financial redress, and only to those who can afford to apply to the scheme. It is the second Dublin march demanding justice this year, though other protests have been held throughout the counties affected, and at Leinster house in September.
The Mica crisis battle is an ongoing and growing crisis, primarily in Donegal, where bricks contaminated with the mineral mica have been used in building homes and businesses across the North-West. Over 700 homes face possible demolition and almost 60,000 people are directly affected by the bricks that have come to resemble ‘wheetabix’ in consistency. Business and holiday homes are also affected but are currently offered no support.
The protest march started at Parnell Square, went down O'Connell Street to the Department of Housing where organisers, campaigners, and politicians made addresses, and looped back around the Liffey to Parnell Square. An early demonstration happened on the M50 when those traveling to Dublin drove slowly, disrupting traffic, a move which Mica Campaigner Paddy Diver took accountability for on Twitter.
There was vocalised anger from those addressing the crowds of protesters. Paddy Diver, one of the prolific campaigners on social media, called on Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to give 100% redress to those whose homes are affected, saying it was not any of the organisers who got the people of the north-west to Dublin, but the government and ministers who forced them to be there. Ann Owens, a founder of the Mica Action group, called for proper investigations into the handling of the crisis.
Other prolific campaigners called out the lack of detail in the government report and the randomness of the estimates of 3.2 billion euros to cover the crisis. They reminded the goverment that this money is not the governments, but tax payers and home owners money. The serious effects on mental health, families, children and marriages, as well as the safety of children playing around crumbling homes, were highlighted. Mayo campaigners called it a ‘humanitarian crisis’, while Sligo campaigners called on the government to ‘do the right thing’.
Addresses from politicians voicing backing for 100% got varying levels of support, reflecting the support people have felt from the parties during this process. Sinn Fein, who proposed 100% redress in the summer, were welcomed to the stand with cheers, while Fianna Fáil, including Minister McConalogue, and Fine Gael were met with booing and unhappy and angry shouts. People Before Profit and Independent TDs criticised the government’s inaction and delays on the report, and asked why 64 billion euros could be found for banks and bondholders, but not for mica affected rural families. Labour, Aontu, and the Green Party also expressed solidarity, some of them being affected directly and indirectly.
The question of who really had political power in Ireland was raised by many speakers. Mica Action Group’s Michael Doherty reminded those there that people voting expected support from their politicians locally, and not for the government to focus their support on the likes of multinationals. Luke Ming Flannigan reminded those there that resignations happen and support for politicians is lost in crisis. The message was clear from many speakers and from the crowd that political support was crucial for future party and individual support from citizens in Donegal, Mayo, and the other areas.
It is clear that should Darragh O’Brien’s new draft deal not provide 100% redress, there will be a continued presence of people on the streets demanding that accountability is taken by the government to support its citizens. The North-West is already lacking a rail, bus, and adequate broadband infrastructure; insufficient financial support from the state will result in tens of thousands in a rural homelessness crisis, as well as a serious mental health crisis. It is unfortunately only a matter of time before more injuries and fatalities may result should an adequate support scheme be delayed any longer.
For more information on the Mica and Pyrite crisis, visit www.micaactiongroup.com
Eimear Smith is a Politics and English student at Queen’s, and a host of The Eco Scoop.