Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
53. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether his attention has been drawn to an upcoming vote on the Critical Raw Materials Act in the European Parliament; what actions will be taken by his Department domestically in light of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40425/23]
View answerMy Department has been leading negotiations for Ireland on the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). Following the publication of the European Parliament’s position on 14th September 2023, tripartite meetings on the CRMA between the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission are due to shortly commence, expected to conclude before the end of 2023.
The present proposal aims to strengthen the different stages of the European critical raw materials (CRM) value chain; diversify the EU's imports of CRMs to reduce strategic dependencies; improve the EU capacity to monitor and mitigate current and future risks of supply disruptions; and ensure the free movement of CRMs on the single market. All actions arising from these objectives will be based on socially and environmentally responsible practices.
The provisions of the Regulation will place a number of obligations on Ireland as a Member State, including:
• The establishment of streamlined permitting arrangements; and administrative and financial supports for Strategic Projects concerning the production, processing and recycling of strategic raw materials;
• National programmes on mineral exploration, increasing circularity, and the valorisation of extractive (mining) waste;
• Reporting to the Commission on raw material projects, supply chain risks and stockpile information;
• Sending delegates to the CRMA governance structure in the European Commission, including the CRM Board and thematic subgroups; and
• International cooperation on Strategic Partnerships on raw materials and the CRM Club.
Ireland supports the objective of the CRMA, in terms of strengthening of the CRM value chain at all levels, and welcomes the main provisions that will improve knowledge, efficiency and cooperation on CRM extraction, processing and recycling; while ensuring socially and environmentally responsible practices. This is essential for the achievement of the EU’s Green Deal objectives and for supporting European competitiveness.
