Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I dtús báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an deis an cheadúnas sirtheoireachta don chomhlacht MOAG ó Cheanada a phlé. Tá ceadúnas sirtheoireachta i lámh MOAG do cheantar PL 934, atá lonnaithe i gCarna, Conamara. Tá oifig agus áit stórála faighte ag MOAG ar léas ó Údarás na Gaeltachta i gCarna. Tá triúr ón cheantar fostaithe go páirt-aimseartha. Is iad na dualgais atá orthu ná déileáil le cúrsaí taistil agus bainistíochta, agus cabhrú chun na samplaí cloch a fháil. Ba mhaith liom a chinntiú do gach duine, agus go háirithe pobal iar-Chonamara, go bhfuil iniúchadh ar an eastóscadh mianraigh molybdenum seo á dhéanamh ag an chaighdeán is airde agus is géire. Is é meas don chomhshaol an príomhthosaíocht. Tá sé tábhachtach, sular tosaíonn comhlacht ar bith ag mianadóireacht ar mianraí, go gcaithfidh sé cead pleanála a fháil ón údarás áitiúil agus ceadúnas truaillithe a fháil ón EPA. Ní mór measúnacht tionchair timpeallachta a dhéanamh freisin.Ina theannta sin, ní féidir mianadóireacht a dhéanamh gan áis mianadóireachta Stáit ón Aire. Tá ráiteas i mBéarla agam anseo ón Roinn. Tá sé faighte ag an Seanadóir ansin.

There are currently approximately 600 active minerals prospecting licences in lreland. Prospecting licence PL 934 was granted in 2005 and renewed in 2012 by the Minister in the then Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The licence is due for renewal at the end of this year. The licence gives the licence holder, MOAG Copper Gold Resources Inc., the right to explore for silver and base metals in Mace Head, Carna, County Galway. This prospecting licence area covers an area of approximately 45 sq. km.

It is my understanding that exploration is being managed on behalf of MOAG by SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd., a consulting firm based in Dublin with extensive mineral exploration experience. I also understand that landowner and community liaison has continued throughout the exploration programme and that the project has generated employment locally. In this regard, three local people have been employed on a part-time basis at the core storage facility located in Carna to assist in sampling, transport and core management. Additionally, local contractors have been used for transporting the core samples, all samples have been analysed at ALS Global Laboratories in Loughrea, County Galway, and drilling has been carried out by Irish Drilling Limited, which is also based in Loughrea.

The Mace molybdenite-copper deposit currently being explored was initially identified in the late 1960s by mapping, geochemistry, geophysics and shallow drilling. It is my understanding that MOAG has sought to build on the early work mainly by carrying out additional structural geological mapping and surveying. Following the grant of drilling permission by the exploration and mining division of my Department, a follow-up six-hole drill programme began in 2014. The results of that programme were extremely encouraging. A more comprehensive drill programme was undertaken in 2015. This drilling programme confirmed the existence of the mineralisation. However, further exploration and evaluation of the information collected is required.

Under the terms and conditions of the prospecting licence, my Department is required to keep all information confidential for six years from the submission of the data. However, I understand that MOAG has made the results of the drilling programme from 2015, and additional information, available on its website at wwwmoag.ca.en. My understanding is that the results of the exploration programme which has been carried out are still being evaluated by the company.

As mentioned, the prospecting licence PL 934 is due to expire at the end of this year and, based on current information, it is expected that the company will apply for it to be renewed. As part of this process, the company will be required to submit an exploration programme which will be screened by the exploration and mining division of my Department to ensure that there are no significant effects on the environment. In respect of environmental matters, I emphasise that, prior to deciding to grant any prospecting licence, officials in the exploration and mining division screen the proposed prospecting activities submitted in relation to the prospecting licence area and make a determination as to whether the activities may have a significant effect on the environment. This is done in compliance with relevant European directives and regulations. It is a condition of the grant of a prospecting licence that, in the event that the relevant prospecting area contains or is in close proximity to an SAC or SPA, before any exploration activity can take place the company is required to seek the prior permission of the exploration and mining division. Such permission is only granted once further screening for significant environmental effects specific to the objectives of the SAC or SPA is undertaken. This further screening is undertaken in compliance with the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, SI 477 of 2011. If drilling is proposed for anywhere within a prospecting licence area, a separate prior permission must be obtained from the exploration and mining division, which undertakes further screening for significant effects to the environment before such permission is granted.