Councillor Wants ‘Public Enquiry’ On Granting Of Clare Prospecting License

A Shannon Councillor is calling for a ‘public enquiry’ after a prospecting license for base metals and ores of silver and gold was granted to Minco Ireland Ltd.

The Department of the Environment says the decision was taken following consideration of submissions received and an assessment of the application to ensure that the activity is licensed in accordance with relevant national legislation.

Minco has told Clare FM its ‘initial programme’ will involve desktop compilation, and that it ‘always acts in a very responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly way’.

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Shannon-based Sinn Fein Councillor Donna McGettigan is skeptical about the plans, and believes more clarity is needed.

Listen back to the full interview below:

Minco Ireland Ltd statement:

Minco’s initial program will involve desktop compilation and interpretation of historic geological information to help define target areas of potential interest.
Minco will engage with elected representatives, local stakeholders and landowners prior to engaging in any substantive exploration work on the ground.
The Licence being awarded is a permit to conduct exploration only. No areas have yet been identified with respect to potential mineral occurrences. Prospecting relates only to the activity of exploring for minerals and does not confer the licensee with any rights to mine. Mining is a separate activity from prospecting and requires further licences and permissions. We are a long way from any potential mining, many steps to go.
Minco is proposing exploration, desk work at this early stage, not mining. Minco always acts in a very responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly way and, as we move forward, we will conduct our work in a manner that is consistent with the Governments Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining, announced by Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, in December 2022, in which he stated:
“This policy adopts the government’s sustainable development principles, supplementing the high level of environmental protection enforced on modern and future prospecting and mining in Ireland. It also seeks to put in place a clear and sustainable policy framework that supports our communities, our environment, our climate and our mineral exploration and mining sectors. It is a priority of this policy that communities and members of the public will have reliable and easily understood sources of information on mineral exploration and mining. This policy statement asserts that the protection of our environment and conservation of our natural heritage is paramount in how these activities are regulated.”