Plan to run 100% Redress general election candidate in Mayo 'is serious'

A member of the 100% Redress campaign for homeowners hit by pyrite and mica damage has stated the declaration they are planning to run candidates in the next general election is "as serious as every other step we have taken in the campaign so far."

Michael Doherty, Culdaff, told Donegal Live: “The Dáil is where it matters. That is where we want to make it happen. It has to be TD level.

"We need to be in there as either a Mica Party or as independents. If they are not going to make 100% Redress happen for us, we will have to go in and make it happen ourselves, by forming part of the numbers game that is holding the government together.

"This is a serious shot at it.

“We believe we are going to have a mix of fresh faces throughout the affected six counties, as well as people who are members of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael looking to swap sides because they are completely disillusioned with what's going on. Those talks are currently ongoing.

"We would like to think we would have at least one candidate but I would be really disappointed if we are not running a few candidates, at least.

“Six candidates, one in every affected constituency, is probably the best we could hope for. I don't think it is an impossible task.

"There are 15 in-power TDs right now in those six affected counties and if we had four of them prepared to come across, which I think is not an unreasonable expectation based on the conversations that are going on, in addition to two fresh faces in there, which I think we could get over the line easily, that is your half dozen.

“The ultimate aim is that we don't need to do it. That Minister Darragh O'Brien will come out and say what he needs to say.

"However, if he doesn't do that, we will be going into the Dáil, with potentially six candidates, looking at forming whatever coalitions are needed to ensure we would get what we need, 100% Redress.

"It is the easy way or the hard way. It would mean a potentially big upset for the government going forward.

"What it has banked on in the past, it may not be able to bank on in the future,” added Mr. Doherty.