Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

First, the reduction in numbers does not set out any policy. It is just indicative of a lower level of exploration for a variety of reasons. These things go through cycles and countries go through phases of fashion where prospecting may be attractive or not. I would not draw any policy conclusions from that. I agree with what I understand to be the Deputy's broad premise, as we must be careful. First, however, we must electrify everything. That is the way forward and that will require quite a variety of different minerals with copper being the most significant constrained mineral but also cobalt, lithium and a whole variety of rare minerals, as the Deputy noted. This could also include aluminium, steel and other resources. It is not free of its own requirements. I agree with the Deputy that we have to avoid a situation where the mining for such materials would only occur in developing countries where there might be lower environmental or social standards. We need to make sure that the same standards apply right across the world.

I have some knowledge of those countries, as I have been involved to a certain extent in the past year through some work in the International Energy Agency in this regard. It wants to see development coming with climate action. The secret to improving environmental standards is having accurate reporting, accounting and traceability mechanism rules in order that it can be seen where materials are coming from and what are the standards on which they are developed and produced. We need to and will apply the same here.

In respect of most of the licensing work in my term of office over the past four years, there have not been any mining applications, as far as I can recall. It typically tends to be prospecting licences, which are, by and large, approved unless there is good reason not to do so. It is in our interest to try to see if there are rare earth materials. I cite Tara Mines as an example of success, in a sense, although one of the biggest challenges there has been its recent closure. Lisheen Mine is another example where the local community was very supportive and engaged in working in the mines and benefited from local mining. It is not impossible for us to develop a more sustainable mining culture.

The issue will only become very much more centre stage if and when there is a discovery found and I am not aware of any at the present time.