Vol. 260 No. 14
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether the Geological Survey Office receive assay results of all drill-holes bored by mining concerns; whether these assay results are submitted at regular intervals; and whether such results are made public.
57.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the last assay information regarding Tara Exploration was submitted to the Geological Survey Office; if he will indicate the findings of that assay result; and, if not, why.
58.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate all the dates on which the Geological Survey Office received assay results of the drill-holes bored by Tara Exploration under prospecting licence 1489 and any subsequent licences which may have been issued to cover the Navan orebody.
59.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of all the assay results submitted to the Geological Survey Office regarding the mining activities of Tara Exploration at Navan, County Meath.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 59 together. Under section 75 of the Minerals Development Act, 1940 any person proposing to make a borehole intended to exceed 20 feet in depth must inform me in advance and must make the journal of the borehole and specimens from the borehole available to me. If anyone making a borehole requests me to treat such information as confidential and I consider the request not to be unreasonable, I must keep this information confidential.
Holders of prospecting licences are required to supply each year records of work carried out in the previous year, including assay result. Such records of work are also treated as confidential.
I am satisfied that those making boreholes, and prospecting licence holders generally, are complying with the requirements I have referred to.
The immediate area of the Nevinstown discovery is held under three prospecting licences issued to Tara Exploration & Development Company Limited. While I am not in a position to reveal information furnished to me in confidence by the company, I am satisfied that the company have met in full their obligations in regard to furnishing of information. Assay results relating to Tara's exploration of the Navan orebody have been furnished to the Geological Survey on various dates, the most recent lodgment being on 17th April, 1972.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if there is any reason why it cannot be made public?
There are many reasons.
Could the Minister give some of the reasons?
I cannot give them publicly. I do not mean in relation to this particular matter.
No, but why should they be kept confidential?
If the Deputy wants me to explain why confidential matters should be confidential in the House he is being naïve.
The Minister's Department give prospecting licences and then the result is sent back to his Department?
That is so.
Does he not think there is a duty on the Minister to make this fact public?
No, the Minister does not think so. If I am to tell the Deputy why not——
The Parliamentary Secretary is not giving me any indication except that there are selfish interests involved.
I have not said any such thing.
He is implying it——
The Deputy is implying it.
——because he will not reveal anything. This is a matter of the natural resources of the country and no details are available to the people.
That is not so.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if any field checks are carried out by the technical officers of the Department to verify the results of boreholes submitted?
Yes.
They confirm the report sent in?
As I indicated, the Department are satisfied that every regulation is being met.
60.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is yet in a position to state when the result of the review carried out under the aegis of his Department into the royalty payments and taxation arrangements pertaining to mining operations in this country will be available.
I am not yet in a position to say when the results will be available. I have, however, asked that every effort should be made to have the review completed as early as possible.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider it will be done this year? What does he think himself? Do not mind the brief.
A good deal of research is necessary, but just to assure the Deputy——
I am wondering will it be done before the loot is taken out of the country.
That is what I wanted to assure the Deputy. No new leases will be granted until the Minister has completed consideration of the results.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if the review in regard to royalty payments will be related to royalty payments on profits or royalty payments on ore mined?
I cannot say that from my information at present. I shall supply the information to the Deputy.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree there would be a vast difference and that it should be on the basis of the ore mined?
I think it is on the basis of ore mined, but I shall confirm that to the Deputy when I have an opportunity of checking it.
Up to now it has only been on profits.
