Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
113. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if, given that the December 2022 mining policy states that no damage may be done to the environment and its protection is “paramount”, he can cite any location where lithium has been mined without severe damage to the environment. [14684/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra114. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if he will comment on how, in its literature the company states that it will remove the settled rock sediment from the drilling site ‘for appropriate disposal’, by saying this acknowledges that its drilling has produced material which is now in a toxic or dangerous state - otherwise why should it have to be removed. [14685/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if he will assert that a drilling, two rigs working 12 hours a day, six days a week, will not damage the amenities (details supplied). [14686/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if, given that in the response he mentions “working with Member States and stakeholders”, he considers that people who live and work in mining/prospecting areas are not stakeholders and that their water supply could be compromised. [14687/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, the reason the Government is favouring the mining of lithium with its many problems over development of truly sustainable systems. [14688/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 117, inclusive, together.
Mineral exploration activities in Ireland operate within a framework of Irish and EU legislation, including those implemented to ensure environmental, including water quality, protection. All exploration activities must be undertaken in a manner avoiding damage to the environment and amenities of the Licensed Area and avoiding or minimising disturbance of residents.
All Prospecting Licence (PL) applications are made to the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) of my Department in a prescribed manner, including provision of information on the proposed work to be carried out, the area of interest, and the mineral for which the company wishes to explore. In the event that drilling is proposed, the activity will be subject to detailed environmental screening assessments which are undertaken by environmental consultants on behalf of the Geoscience Regulation Office. A surface and groundwater risk assessment was carried out on the drilling area in Moylisha by the GSRO’s external environmental consultants to determine the level of risk posed by drilling and the risk to surface and groundwater was found to be low for a number of stated reasons.
GSRO staff would carry out site inspections during drilling operations. On completion of any drilling the site must be restored to the conditions prior to commencement, or as close thereto as possible. To do this, any waste produced must be removed and accordingly the settled rock sediment, which are drill cuttings produced as a standard by-product of drilling, would be removed from the drilling site. The company has stated that the relevant drill cuttings would be captured using a Solid Removal Unit and collected in an onsite skip, before removal to a licensed disposal site.
The company has stated that the Wicklow Way trail public access routes would not be closed during operations. However, due to proximity of some drill pads to the public trails, barricades might be erected around the drill rig for safety reasons, but this would not purposely or actively close off any public trails.
Traffic volume arising from prospecting is not likely to be significant, with an articulated lorry required to transport the drilling rigs to and from the site at the start and end of the drilling campaign. Thereafter, on average, just two standard vehicles (for example pick-up trucks) would transport drillers and company geological staff to the general drilling area on a daily basis. Very short temporary blockage of the local road might occur during the two separate days of mobilisation and de-mobilisation of the rigs gear, to facilitate rig movement on or offsite.
A key priority set out in the Government’s Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining is building public understanding and trust in relation to mineral exploration and mining activities, requiring public engagement to identify and address any concerns about the mineral sector and how it interacts with local communities. Going forward, stakeholder and public consultation and engagement will be important in contributing to the implementation of the Policy Statement, which also reflects discussions of the Minerals Exploration and Mining Advisory Group comprising representatives of the environmental, geoscientific, industry and social pillars, as well as departments and regulators. Providing that mechanism for a larger number of stakeholders with an interest in mineral exploration and mining will open up the possibility to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern.
Sourcing, processing and recycling critical raw materials in Europe and securing supply chains are necessary for the EU to meet its climate and digital objectives. The finalised EU Critical Raw Materials Act due in 2024, will address European supply issues at all levels including mining, refining, processing and recycling; and associated environmental protections and public engagement at each stage. Lithium has been identified as a critical raw material in the 2023 list of critical raw materials for the EU due to its importance in the green energy transition, taking into account the IEA’s prediction of clean energy technologies’ share of total demand rising significantly over the next two decades to almost 90% for lithium.
