There is no reason prospecting for any mineral should impact, either positively or negatively, on the tourism industry. The Deputy will be aware, from replies to previous questions on this subject, that there has been prospecting in the area of south west Mayo continuously for the last ten years. I have no indication that there has been any effect on the tourism industry because of this and, if prospecting is carried out in accordance with the licence conditions and guidelines issued by my Department, there is no reason why there should be any impact. The licences issued cover all minerals and not just gold as implied by the Deputy's question.
In the event that commercial quantities of minerals of any kind are discovered, it will then be a matter for the licence holders to make application for planning permission and a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency after having first carried out an environmental impact study. In the event that planning permission and the necessary licence from the Environmental Protection Agency are granted I would then have to issue a State mining facility before mining could commence.
Mining, if allowed, would certainly impact on both the tourism industry and the general environment, including habitats. These impacts could be of a positive nature. The impacts would also be short-term in that the standard terms of a modern State mining facility require full rehabilitation of the site when mining is completed. Financial conditions to ensure that this obligation is met usually from part of the conditions attached to planning permission.