Pringle calls continued delays in mica redress scheme ‘completely unacceptable’

By Thomas Pringle
Updated: 20th January 2022

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has again called on Government to publish mica redress legislation, and to remove the ‘nonsensical’ sliding scale.

Addressing the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, in the Dáil today during Questions on Promised Legislation, Deputy Pringle said: “It’s seven weeks since I stood here and asked you to explain where the dubious sliding scale came from. That day you said you reckoned it was a sensible one. You may still hold that thinking. But you cannot continue to call it a 100 per cent redress scheme and stand over the sliding scale at the same time.

“It’s irrational and it’s totally disingenuous, Tánaiste. The people of Donegal are not fools, so I’d ask that you stop with the spin,” he said.

The deputy said he has asked the minister a number of parliamentary questions on the matter, yet the minister has failed to provide an adequate answer.

Deputy Pringle said: “Seven weeks later, his department has yet to release records under FOI on the issue either. It gives me the impression it was a calculation written on the back of an envelope at the very last minute in cabinet and rubber-stamped.

“There is a stench from it,” he said.

Deputy Pringle asked: “Can you give me a definitive timeline for your government to publish the mica redress legislation, and will you commit to consigning the nonsensical sliding scale to the bin of bad ideas?”

In response, the Tánaiste said Government expected legislation to establish the mica scheme on a statutory footing no later than Easter.

Speaking later, Deputy Pringle called further delays, “completely unacceptable”.

“It’s shocking that it would take so long,” he said.