Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Is breá an rud a bheith ag plé rud éicint eile seachas cúrsaí aeirsheirbhíse go hÁrainn agus mar sin de. Is Bille tábhachtach é seo agus ardóidh mé roinnt ceisteanna sonracha, b'fhéidir, nuair a bhéas mé ag cur críche leis an bpointe cainte atá mé le déanamh.

Despite this being a relatively small island, we have a diverse geology that contains large and varying levels of minerals beneath the soil. These deposits are spread throughout the country, with mineral deposits to be found across the 32 counties. While Ireland is a small country, we are not a small player when it comes to the development of certain minerals. To put the matter in perspective, since 1960, 15 significant zinc lead deposits have been discovered, with six becoming producing mines. Ireland has been ranked first in the world in the zinc discovered per square kilometre and second in the case of lead. Ireland's two underground zinc-lead mines accounted for approximately 30% of European zinc mine output and 10.7% of European lead mine output. Tara Mines in Navan, County Meath, is the most notable example of such a mine. Therefore, we welcome the publication of this legislation as it relates to a significant Irish industry.

It is important that our legislation and the regulations surrounding mining be brought up to modern standards. However, it must be noted that this legislation was a long time coming and people involved in the industry are eager to see the current legislation updated and enacted.

Mining plays a significant role in the economy, as has been stated. In 2012 mining output generated €426.1 million for the economy, while €56.6 million was generated for the Exchequer in tax and 1,373 people were employed on a full-time basis. Therefore, it is important to consider how the funds generated from mining activity are harnessed by the State to best advantage. It is also important that State-owned minerals not be discarded as they can be viewed as a source of income for the State. With this in mind, I am concerned about section 82 of the Bill which allows the Minister to sell State-owned minerals instead of granting a mining licence. We have experienced far too much privatisation in Ireland and do not want to suffer a repeat of what we have witnessed in other sectors. Neither do we want to experience a repeat of what has happened in the case of offshore oil and gas whereby we have transferred almost all profits to private companies.

The safety of mines is also a source of concern. The State has a responsibility to ensure all mines operate to the highest safety standards. For example, the land and minerals rights at the Avoca mine in County Wicklow are owned by the State. As this is an historic mine, the Government must ensure old shafts, site heaps, etc. are kept safe for the public. It is important, where a private company or owner is involved in mining, that they also be compelled to ensure the site is safe and that the Minister have the necessary powers to oversee this. There must be clarification of the scheduling of minerals. For example, the definition of "dolomitic limestone" in section 2 needs to be clarified. The interpretation of dolomitic limestone and limestone is subjective. Inconsistent interpretation has allowed multinational companies to exploit deposits of dolomitic limestone without approval from the State. This has resulted in some companies being able to avoid paying royalties, while smaller producers return their royalties to the State. This is hardly a fair system and the Minister of State must ensure clarity on the issue.

Sinn Féin welcomes this long overdue legislation and is happy to support its passage through the Houses. I note some prospecting for gold is happening in Connemara. This matter was brought to my attention during the summer. A question that has arisen and which comes within the remit of the Minister of State is how prospecting for gold can take place in an SAC. The impact is the destruction of an SAC. The mining is taking place in an area with a radius of 60 km, most of which is included in an SAC. Even if those involved are lucky enough to strike gold in the hills in Connemara, how will they be able to mine it without impacting on the SAC? How can those involved in mining activity overcome this barrier when people building houses or trying to engage in other developments or cut turf, as the Minister of State alluded to, are not allowed to do so? Perhaps the Minister of State might clarify the matter.

I have raised issues with the Department about the quarrying of marble. Some licences date back so far that they have been handed down from landlord to landlord. Some are owned by people who do not live in the State. Certain individuals with rights to quarry marble on other people's land were sitting on these rights and thus not allowing others to develop marble quarries on their own land. I raised this issue a number of times with the then Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd. The Minister should have intervened in that scenario so as not to allow it to happen. Does the legislation address that issue, where somebody with quarrying rights is sitting on a mineral to prevent somebody else from making a go of it? As I said, there are licences which predate the State and which have been handed down from landlord to landlord.What is the State doing to take back these licences into State ownership in order that it will have full control over them?

Táimid chun leasuithe a thabhairt chun cinn maidir le cuid de na ceisteanna seo ar an gcéad Staid eile. Fáiltimid roimh an reachtaíocht ach tá sé tábhachtach díriú ar chuid de na ceisteanna sonracha atáimid ag plé.