Vol. 460 No. 7
22 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the proposals, if any, he will pursue in 1996, in order to fulfil the recommendations of the National Minerals Policy Review Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2181/96]
The report of the national minerals policy review group, which was published in May 1995, was the first indepth review of minerals policy since the 1981 NESC report. The review group made 52 recommendations for action, by Government and the minerals industry, in relation to a wide range of matters and with considerable variations in costs and timescales for their implementation.
The most important of the review group's recommendations seek major changes in fiscal, land use and industrial policies as well as new primary legislation and new administrative arrangements at Government level for dealing with minerals matters. Those recommendations must, therefore, be carefully considered by me and my Government colleagues in a strategic way. That is being done and decisions will be announced as soon as possible.
The main thrust of the review group's report is a strong endorsement of the responsible development of the minerals resources of the country. That is fully in accord with my own very active and sustained support for more focused and intensive minerals exploration throughout the country. I am anxious to encourage the development of further commercially viable deposits in such a way as to maximise the return to the Exchequer and to the economy generally while protecting the environment and allowing a fair return to investors. I am committed to keeping policy and procedures under review to ensure that they meet our needs.
I have already taken a number of initiatives which are proving very successful. I mention in particular the 1995 guidelines I issued to facilitate aerial geophysical surveying for minerals. This has resulted in the first such surveys after more than 12 years and more frequent prospecting licence competitions so as to allow quicker access to areas becoming available for prospecting. My proactive approach is clearly yielding significant results, judging by the additional millions of pounds now going into minerals exploration in Ireland and the fact that further major international minerals firms are indicating their intention to engage in minerals exploration in Ireland. I am committed to having a far greater level of minerals exploration in the country and I am pleased to record the very good progress to date.
What time scale has the Minister set in 1996 for the implementation of the recommendations or group of recommendations?
Many of the review group's recommendations have already been implemented, notably the enactment of legislation to provide for renewal of mineral prospecting licences——
That was done before the report was published.
——provision of incentives to direct attention to under explored ground, more flexible arrangements for approval of joint ventures between mineral prospecting firms, further environmental protection at mineral prospecting and development stages, and streamlining of the mine permit process through closer co-operation between the authorities namely my Department, the Environmental protection Agency and the local planning authority. This applies to the detailed assessment of two mining projects at Lisheen and Kilbreckan, currently requiring permits and, of course, the 1996 budget provision of a tax allowance for mine rehabilitation expenditure and a reduction in the standard rate of corporation tax from 38 per cent to 30 per cent for the first £50,000 of profits both of which will be included in the 1996 Finance Bill.
The 52 recommendations, which the review group did not rank in order of priority, cover a wide range of matters and there are considerable variations in costs and time-scales for their implementation. Priorities must be established for examining the recommendations, as has been done, while ensuring that as much as possible responsible minerals exploration and development can proceed without delay.
Was this question taken during Priority Question Time?
I neglected to announce in my hurried efforts to facilitate Deputy Noel Treacy that his question was taken in ordinary Question Time.
That is why I want to ask a supplementary.
I made it clear that we are considerably beyond our time limit and I do not have time to facilitate the Deputy. I made it clear that I had time only for one supplementary question.
