Up to 1,000 people attended a public meeting in Buncrana, Co Donegal, last night, which was organised by Mica Action Group, the 100% Redress party and Redress Focus Groups.
All local public representatives were invited to state their position on "The People's Document" which calls for a new total redress scheme and was drafted by the groups, with additional recommendations from a previous public meeting earlier this month.
In attendance were four of the five TDs for Co Donegal including Independent Thomas Pringle, Fine Gael’s Joe McHugh, and Sinn Féin’s Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty who all set out their positions.
A letter from Fianna Fáil's Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue was read out at the meeting.
It said he could not attend the discussions due to a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels.
A separate message was read from Senator Niall Blaney who also could not attend.
The meeting also heard a letter of support from MEP Luke Flanagan who said he could not attend.
He called for a public inquiry into the mica scandal.
There was also a message from the Social Democrats, which said they were keen to work with the Mica Action Group.
Many of Donegal's county councillors attended alongside two representatives from Sligo Pyrite Group.
Mr Pringle and Mr McHugh fully endorsed "The People’s Document".
Mr McHugh said that he lost the Fine Gael whip when he voted against a previous redress scheme "because it did not go far enough" and that he lost influence in Government over it.
Both Mr Mac Lochlainn and Mr Doherty spoke in support of "The People's Document".
However, later during questions from the floor, they were accused of not fully endorsing the document.
Mr Doherty replied that if his party were in Government, as finance minister he would find the money to rebuild all homes with defective blocks.
He was also raised questions about rented homes with mica.
He explained that he could not commit yet to paying redress for more than one rented property before first addressing the scope of the problem of principle private homeowners.
When explaining the details of the document, chairperson Michael Doherty said homeowners can no longer "play Russian roulette" with the redress scheme.
He concluded the meeting on a positive note, he said "there is a brighter day ahead".
