Mining Industry

309. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of the proposed geoscience Bill or any successor legislation relating to mineral exploration and mining regulation; the key legislative reforms being considered; the timeline for Government approval and publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40090/26]

310. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current membership of the Minerals Exploration and Mining Advisory Group; the bodies and organisations represented on the group; the number of meetings held since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40092/26]

226. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the implementation of the previous Government’s 2022 Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining; the items that remain outstanding; the steps he is taking to ensure their implementation by the end of the five year implementation period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39458/…

230. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the licencing system for mining operations at a mine (details supplied); what licences are currently issued; the frequency with which they are renewed; the process for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29621/25]

231. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the royalties system for a mine (details supplied); the way in which royalties are calculated and governed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29623/25]

235. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if any applications for new or additional drilling licences or amendments to existing licences are with his Department from a company (details supplied); if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29849/25]

429. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if any request has been made by a Government Department or a company (details supplied) for a deferral or review of royalties as they apply to the operation of a mine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29848/25]

36. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will support proposals concerning the Shallee project and the development of facilities at Shallee Mine in Silvermines, County Tipperary; if he has been made aware of previous correspondence issued to his Department (details supplied); if he will review this correspondence; and if he will …

454. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has requested the transboundary screening for the main mine application, mine waste facility, water abstraction and discharge applications, and the habitats regulations assessment from his Northern Ireland counterpart in respect of the Sperrins mine transboundary consultation; and if not, if he will do so a…

544. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure shared the two water discharge consent applications and the two water abstraction licence applications in their notification to the Minister with regard to the transboundary nature of the gold mine application in the Sperrins area of outstanding natural b…

115. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is concerned about potential transboundary environmental impacts from gold mining in the Sperrins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6791/25]

139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the process for granting a mining license; to detail the number and location of mining licenses currently active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5509/25]

140. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the reasoning for the granting approval of a prospecting license in west Cork (details supplied); if he has been made aware of the concerns of local people in regard to possible future mining activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5510/25]

199. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will supply the complete notification received in respect of the Sperrins gold mine; if he will make a statement on the notification in respect of water abstraction and discharge; and if he will make a statement on the need to request a transboundary consultation due to the River Finn SAC. [5225/25]

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to advertise the transboundary consultation on the proposed goldmine in the Sperrins area of outstanding natural beauty, County Tyrone. [5367/25]

361. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a role in considering applications for a gold mine in the Sperrin Mountains, given that it may impact on heritage sites there; and if he will make a statement on his engagement with the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy on the matter. [4169/25]

556. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what contacts have been made with his Department by the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure in relation to transboundary issues arising from plans for mining in the Sperrins; what arrangements, if any, have made been to facilitate public engagement and consultation in this jurisdiction in relation to t…

559. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure has formally notified the Government of the gold mine application in the Sperrins AONB, as required under the Espoo Convention and EIA Regulations, given the shared waterways between both jurisdictions. [3305/25]

560. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a formal notification has been made of the gold mine application in the Sperrins AONB; when this will be published in a national newspaper in the Republic of Ireland to ensure full public awareness, particularly regarding potential impacts on the River Finn SAC and species such as the Atlantic salmon. [33…

561. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps the Government will take to ensure that proper transboundary environmental impact assessments are conducted for the Sperrins AONB gold mine project, particularly concerning water quality and ecology in the River Finn SAC, as required under the Habitats Directive. [3307/25]

562. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the length of time the public consultation period in the Republic of Ireland will last for the Sperrins AONB gold mine project; and what efforts will be made to engage relevant environmental authorities and the public, given the significant potential environmental and health risks associated with the propose…