Attorney general Rossa Fanning mediated an internal Fine Gael dispute over the controversial mica scheme after TD Joe McHugh resigned the party whip.

Mica homeowners have had redress applications downgraded to cheaper options on the recommendation of a state-appointed company linked to the chair of the state’s mica expert group.

In September 2021, months before government announced an adapted mica scheme, attorney general Paul Gallagher wrote to housing minister Darragh O’Brien with legal advice.

The attorney general warned the housing minister that mica-affected homeowners would put “tremendous pressure” on officials to get the best possible deal under the state redress scheme and that the council may not assess claims independently.

The attorney general told government it was “necessary” for homeowners applying to the state mica scheme to “understand” why they weren’t getting the same terms of a similar scheme offered to owners of defective homes in Dublin.