Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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In programme C, on the number of active minerals prospective licences, the 2022 target was 450, the 2023 target was 400 and the 2024 target is 375. Is the plan into the future for that number to continue to come down? Obviously, a current feature in the world economy is of major sacrifice zones being created, particularly in the global south, due to the mining for lithium and other minerals or rare earths. It points to a problem with the idea that the economy can keep going as it is, albeit with a shift of everything from fossil fuels to electric. In doing so, we fly past a bunch of other planetary boundaries, as well as carbon emissions and greenhouse gases.

Obviously, there is a danger that those sacrifice zones also come to Ireland. There are no current licences for mining for lithium in Ireland but prospecting is going on and a licence for prospecting at Moylisha, where I spoke to one of the campaigners. How does the Minister see this playing out? I note in the Government's policy statement on mineral exploration that it discusses sustainable exploration, mining and the contribution that can make. Can the Minister outline how that will happen, as opposed to the construction of sacrifice zones, damages to water quality, impacts on biodiversity and so on, like we see in the global south?