asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the estimated increased yield to revenue in the event of the sliding scale of mineral royalty payments being increased from a maximum of 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mineral Royalty Payments.
87.
I assume that the Deputy's question relates to royalty payments in respect of the working of State-owned base metals.
Royalties payable in respect of State minerals in existing base metal mines are governed by the terms of leases already entered into with the operating companies and such leases do not provide for the variation of the royalty rate during the term of the leases.
In the case of any base metal mines which might be established in the future, the Deputy will appreciate that, on the assumption that the same system of royalty payments is adopted, payments would depend on the level of profits and on the intermediate as well as the maximum royalty rates chargeable. In the circumstances it is not possible to make any realistic calculation on the basis indicated in the question.