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Pringle raises Donegal mining issues during Leaders’ Questions
- Updated: 13th June 2019
Thomas Pringle TD – June 13th, 2019
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Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle has today used his Leaders’ Questions to raise the issue of mining licences in Donegal. The Minister for Communications was present to take the question where issues in relation to existing legislation, environmental impact and effects on community were discussed.
Speaking during Leaders’ Deputy Pringle stated “for now, Great Glen Resources have turned away but there’s still an open call for applications for a prospecting licence and which is open until the end of this week which means communities in Donegal are still vulnerable to prospecting”.
“Not only do communities in Donegal want to say no to Great Glen Resources, they want to say no to Mining permanently, and they seek a commitment from Government to cease the granting of prospecting licences now and into the future.
“Unfortunately the Government is nowhere near providing that commitment as it continues to advertise Ireland to the world as a leading destination for mine companies due to its relaxed and flexible tax regime.
“Total receipts for mining in Ireland as of December 2018 amounted to just over €6m so a good question to ask is if the State is accruing its fair share in terms of royalties as this figure seems to be disproportionately small given the fact that Ireland holds once of the largest zinc mines in the world and is the largest contributor to zinc in Europe.
“I do not believe that the granting of a licence for this mine would be economically beneficial to Donegal or the State and in no way adheres to Part 2 of the Minerals Development Act 2015 which states the Minister must take into account the economic benefits to the region before a licence is granted.
“Legislation is also still extremely week with regards to consulting local communities affected by developments in mining. Current Legislation regulating mining practices in Ireland does not sufficiently provide for proper consultation with communities from the very beginning and the communities of Glenfin know this.
“I will continue pursuing the Government on this issue and will seek to meet with the Minister on behalf of the communities affected to advance their cause further and ensure that the needs of the community are put first before profit” concludes Pringle.
