Mr. Frank Sheridan:

The Minister's role is to authorise the mining activity, which cannot take place without having obtained planning permission for the above ground operations and the assessment of the impact of that activity on the environment. If approved and licensed by the EPA, this is one of the criteria that the Minister would take into account in awarding a mining licence. However, having satisfied the planning and environmental authorities that the mine plan is valid and good, then it is his decision, although he is not obliged to provide a mining licence because that will be ultimately be based on his assessment of the viability and feasibility of the mining plan for extraction of the minerals.