New political party could be formed by mica campaigners

A new political party could be formed to contest the next local elections in Donegal.

Some mica campaigners believe that this would send a warning shot to government, with politicians in the north west fearing for their seats as a result of the fallout from the defective block scandal.

The move is not a major surprise and comes as a considerable number of mica-affected homeowners have vented their feelings about what they feel is an inadequate redress scheme.

Campaigner Paddy Diver said it is time “the people of Donegal started looking after Donegal”.

Speaking to the PA News Agency, he said: “We’re not going away, there’s plenty of things happening in the background. We are seriously in big talks about running candidates.

“The councillors in there at the moment are far too quiet. I look around my own local place and I’m starting to delve into other stuff that doesn’t work for us. There’s nothing for youths to do in our town. Not even a basketball court, not a tennis court, there’s nothing.

“If I went into the council, I wouldn’t be sitting in the corner. I’d be making noise and I would be exposing people out there. The rest of the councillors around Donegal, they have to up their game.

“There’s not enough people doing their jobs out there.”

Diver said the party would not focus solely on Mica but address long-standing issues in Donegal, known locally as “the forgotten county” due to a perceived lack of funding and services throughout the years.

“It’s time now that the people of Donegal started looking after Donegal. The way the Healy-Raes look after Kerry is what we want,” he said. "If the TDs in this county were looking after the people of Donegal, we wouldn’t be in the state we’re in today," he claimed.

“For 10 years this has been going on. Are you telling me a TD shouldn’t have stopped this from happening?
“The warning signs were out there 10 years ago, even five years ago.
“I would love to go in there and make change, being honest. Because I would ruffle feathers. I wouldn’t be sitting in the corner, I’ll tell you that.”

Diver said he has not yet decided if he will run himself, but has not ruled it out.

“One day I’m thinking I definitely would run. Another day I’m thinking, could I even make change? Would it annoy me too much?” he said.

“But, at the end of the day, if there’s one little mosquito in a room full of people, it would be a very annoying room to be in.

“We don’t know who’s running yet but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.”

“We’re still in talks, we’re looking at a new party at the minute. But we’re still in talks as to the best way to go,” he added.

Diver said he was heartbroken for the children of Donegal, many of whom are living in crumbling houses over Christmas.

“The children now, they’ve lost their childhood,” he said.

Some of them are struggling, some of them are crying and their mental health is suffering.

“I know myself from talking to teachers the children’s grades are suffering badly this year.
“Donegal is turning into a sad place to live in, that’s being honest. This is impacting children, it’s impacting parents and it’s impacting old age pensioners.

“I had an old age pensioner on the phone to me the other day and she was crying, inconsolably. Christmas is here and she is heartbroken.”