A formal complaint has been lodged with the EU Commission on behalf of families impacted by the defective concrete blocks crisis in Ireland.
The complaint was delivered to the Commission in Brussels today by Donegal campaigners and affected homeowners Joseph Morgan and Chris Duddy. It claims that the Irish government failed in its duty to conduct market surveillance on construction products being placed on the market.
Petitions to the PETI Committee made by defective block homeowners resulted in EU representatives launching a fact finding mission to Ireland in October/November 2023. The PETI Committee today presented their report from their trip to Donegal to both the Parliament & representatives from the EU.
Chris Duddy and Joseph Morgan in Brussels today at the presentation of the fact finding mission report.
Speaking from Brussels, Joseph Morgan said: “It was critical we deliver our formal complaint today so that we connect the EU Parliament fact finding report and our account of the crisis in Ireland, caused by failed Market Surveillance which allowed defective products to enter the EU Market place.
“This complaint, which has been worked on for the last few years, follows on from our face to face meeting with the Commission in June 2023. It represents the official commencement of our escalation of the crisis in Ireland to the EU Commission.
“In addition to the issues with defective blocks historically, the complaint also outlines the systematic failure by our government in their market surveillance of construction products on a national basis which has resulted in what the EU Parliament themselves call a ‘Housing Crisis’.”
The petitioners’ compliant asks the EU Commission to mandate enhancements to Irish legislation to ensure market surveillance in Ireland is effective and bring an end to the ‘flood of defective products into the EU market’.
Joseph continued: “We have also asked for fully compensated remediation, something wholly lacking in current government proposals.
“It is imperative that the next generation of home builders – our children, do not find the need to return to the EU to explain their homes are crumbling down around them.”
Campaigners have issued a special thanks to MEP Luke “Ming” Flanagan, his team, and “The Left” for their continued support in highlighting this issue at EU Level.
Chris Duddy, MEP Luke “Ming” Flanagan and Joseph Morgan in Brussels
