asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what checks, if any, are made on behalf of the State on the accuracy of the claims made for the mineral quality of cores from bore holes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Core Mineral Quality.
24.
Holders of prospecting licences are required to carry out approved programmes of work and to supply me with full details of the results of exploration under the licences. Information given in this way cannot be revealed without the consent of the prospectors. Prospecting work programmes are carried out under the general supervision of the geological survey of my Department, which is also responsible for checking on results reported. It would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on the checking system but I can assure the Deputy that it is adequate to test the accuracy of the claims made for mineral quality of cores from bore holes.
This reminds me of an answer I got earlier this week from the Taoiseach's Department about the checks that were made on the export of minerals. The Minister has not answered the question I asked him, except by inference at the end of the answer. I asked him what checks, if any, are carried out on behalf of the State, on the accuracy of the claims made for mineral quality of cores from bore holes. That is a simple, straightforward question. The Minister told me about claims that are made under prospecting licences but that is not what I asked.
In reply to the question the Deputy asked me I said that it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on the checking system. I said that I could assure the Deputy that it is adequate to test the accuracy of the claims made.
I have not sufficient interest in this matter to raise it on the Adjournment but, in the absence of information as to what the checks are, nobody in this House can make any comment whatever.
Many comments are being made outside the House without any information either.
Would the Minister not agree that it is common practice for mining companies making test bores, and so on, to transfer and transmit the material and data obtained thereform with the greatest of secrecy from this country without the slightest prospect of the State being made aware of the outcome of the experimental test bores on a prospecting basis? If the Minister receives further information, from the Geological Office and so on, it is purely on a grace and favour basis that this information is given to him and would he please, therefore, stop masquerading as being in control of the situation? He is not, whether it is off the Cork coast or in County Mayo.
Question No. 25.
The Deputy is anxious to have cloak and dagger stuff insinuated all the time.
May I again ask the Minister is it not correct that when a licence is issued and boring takes place, the result of such boring is catalogued, made available in a store, and that his Department, the Geological Survey Office, are notified and are given every opportunity of checking the result of the bore against the information supplied on spot checks? Is that not correct?
This is correct but it is only part of the check.
Question No. 25.
May I ask the Minister——
——what check is made to ensure that the core from a bore hole is not salted? Other countries have arrangements, particularly the important mining countries, to prevent this being done. What arrangements has the Minister got? He has no arrangements whatever.
(Interruptions.)