Mick Clifford: When the levy breaks, we all end up paying the bill

Huge sums of money will be drained to compensate those affected by faulty construction while the industry, in which systemic failures occurred, walks away unscathed, writes Mick Clifford

The 10% toll on concrete products which was forecast to generate €80m annually was to go towards a bill to replace or repair homes destroyed by mica in concrete blocks. The total bill is estimated to be just short of €3bn. Picture: Dominic McGrath/PA Wire

Rowing back from a bad decision is never easy, but it can also present an opportunity. Such an opportunity arose in the Government’s decision this week to take another stab at imposing a levy on concrete products after the initial design met with major political opposition. 

Unfortunately, there was no stomach to address the issue properly and once again short-term politics has won out over prudent and fair governance.