Vol. 472 No. 4
165 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the role, if any, he is playing in the development of an EU minerals policy in the context of EU co-operation with the developing world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23524/96]
Neither my Department nor I are at present involved in the development of an EU minerals policy in the context of EU co-operation with the developing world.
Our primary concern is to ensure that the EU adopts a sensible approach in regard to environmental protection and other matters, so as to allow responsible mining to proceed within the EU, and especially in Ireland, and our efforts will continue to be directed at that. Any further EU co-operation with developing countries in regard to minerals would have to be consistent with that national objective.
