Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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298. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the work of his Department’s exploration and mining division; the way in which he ensures that exploration and mining projects in Ireland are consistent with climate and environmental goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23207/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Geoscience Policy Division in my Department is responsible for maintaining, developing and promoting geoscience policy and regulatory frameworks for the minerals, petroleum and geothermal sectors to support a circular economy and a well-protected environment. The Geoscience Regulation Office of my Department is responsible for the regulation of minerals exploration and mining.

The 2022 Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining -Critical Raw Materials for the Circular Economy Transition sets out the key principles and priorities that guide the regulation of these activities and the role minerals will play in our future. The Policy asserts that the protection of our environment and conservation of our natural heritage is paramount in how these activities are regulated. Individual mineral exploration and mining projects must comply with environmental law and the regulatory processes undertaken by the Geoscience Regulation Office in my Department to ensure their compliance are explained in the policy statement.

Under the overall policy, the Division is reviewing and modernising relevant legislation and planning for the establishment of a new geoscience agency, in addition to implementing at national level the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), a new EU Regulation that aims to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical materials needed for the green and digital transitions. The CRMA is closely aligned with Ireland’s Mineral Policy Statement and, through its provisions, the Act establishes measures to support sustainable mining practices while upholding robust environmental, social and governance standards.

Within the overall policy context, including the focus on resource efficiency in the EU CRMA and at national level in the Circular Economy Strategy, there is clear role for mineral exploration and mining projects in the transition to a circular economy, in underpinning the green and digital transitions, and in supporting resilience, security of supply of raw materials and energy security.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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299. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide and update on the work of his Department’s petroleum affairs division; the way in which he ensures that oil and gas exploitation in Ireland is consistent with climate and environmental goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23208/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Petroleum Affairs Division no longer exists in my Department. Since January 2021, the regulation of minerals exploration and mining and the remaining petroleum authorisations has been carried out by the Geoscience Regulation Office in my Department.

As outlined in the 2022 Policy Statement on Petroleum Exploration and Production, the Department is no longer accepting new applications for exploration licences for natural gas or oil. This commitment was made effective immediately upon the previous Government taking office in June 2020, and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 placed this commitment on a statutory basis.

Holders of existing authorisations are not affected by these changes and may apply to progress their authorisations through the licensing stages.