asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has yet fixed royalties for and granted a prospecting licence to a firm (name supplied) in County Meath.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prospecting Licence.
78.
I assume that the Deputy's question relates to the Navan zinc/lead discovery area in County Meath.
The company named hold three prospecting licences in this area. I have already stated in the House that I have given an undertaking to this company to grant them a lease in respect of State-owned minerals in a number of townlands in the Navan area, subject to such terms and conditions as I may consider proper or desirable in the public interest.
No decision has been taken in regard to royalty rates to be applied under such a lease.
Is it not a fact that the Minister cannot either grant leases or fix royalties until a certain piece of litigation is out of the way?
That is not a fact. It is something I am mindful of in regard to this but the fact that there is litigation in progress does not mean that I could not negotiate a lease.
The Minister is quite correct. He could, if he wished grant not prospecting licences but mining rights and fix the royalties at the present stage. Does he not think he is prejudicing the issue by delaying so long because he is putting people who are on one side in a better bargaining position?
I do not accept that I am prejudicing the issue in that regard. I think the House will appreciate that it would seem rather extraordinary for me, as Minister, to negotiate a lease for working minerals which I claim are the property of the State but which claim is at present being contested in the courts.
Surely that is not the issue. Surely there is a section where there is no dispute and in which the Minister could grant the mining rights if he so desired without interfering with the decision in the court case on the remainder of the property?
This is so but I do not think that negotiating for the lease of half the property is the proper way to tackle it. In addition, as I have already indicated, I am awaiting a report from an inter-departmental committee with recommendations on fiscal policy in relation to this matter.
When does the Minister expect a decision from the inter-departmental committee? This is a very important matter.
It is. It is very hard to put a date on it.
Surely the Minister is unfair in giving as a reason something which is not quite correct. Surely the inter-departmental committee is the main reason why the Minister is not proceeding with the issue of mining rights and, if that is so, should he not make an effort to get this matter disposed of? Does he consider that any company should be prepared to wait an indefinite time, unable to make plans because they have not got the rights they require?
Many people tell me I should not give them any lease.
I know that but I am talking about reasonable people.
May I ask the Minister, as a reasonable person, if he intends to fix the royalties on profits or on ore production?
In view of the fact that I am awaiting this report from a well informed committee, I do not think I should predetermine that issue. I have my own ideas but I do not think I should anticipate anything that might be recommended.
If the Department's ideas conflicted with the Minister's which would prevail?
The Minister's ideas would certainly prevail.