Tag Archives: Minco Ireland

A SERIES of questions have been put to the Minister for the Environment, by Clare’s Sinn Fein TD over proposals to prospect for silver and gold ore in East Clare.  Deputy Violet Anne Wynne tabled the Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to Minister Eamon Ryan on foot of controversy over attempts by a Navan-based mining company, Minco, to secure a prospecting licence for a number of towanlands in Tulla and Bunratty Upper. (Read about the public meeting against the move here) The deadline for submissions was extended to Sunday last, after a public outcry, and intervention from Senator Róisín Garvey.  Minister Ryan confirmed the extension to January 23, outlining that an additional 14 days had been given. The Kilrush-based representative asked a range of questions of the Minister on his knowledge of the East Clare proposals and mining and prospecting policy generally.  In response to a question on what kind of environmental impact statements are required when a company applies for a …

CLARE County Council has supported a call for Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to reject the granting of a proposed prospecting licence to Minco Ireland in South-East Clare. Minco Ireland wants to conduct desktop studies, geochemistry and drilling in the area, which the company claims would involve ‘minimal’ levels of disturbance in surrounding communities. The Department of the Environment announced its intention to grant a licence to Navan, Co. Meath-based Minco Ireland Ltd. to prospect for base metals, baryte, gold and silver ores in Tulla Upper Barony and Bunratty Upper Barony. This announcement was made on December 9 2021 with the closing date for any objections to the granting of the licence required to be submitted by January 8 2022. The public consultation period has been extended to January 24 following representations to the department and huge concern in the affected communities. A petition by local environmental group Futureproof Clare launched on Thursday January 6 has received more than 1,500 signatures …

CONCERN over the possibility of mineral prospecting in East Clare has prompted the formation of an opposition group in the Tulla area.  Keep Tulla Untouched was set up on foot of a notice by the Department of the Environment signalling its intention to grant a prospecting licence to Minco Ireland. Christine O’Brien, whose land spans a number of the townlands earmarked for silver and gold prospecting, is among the members of the group. The organisation’s submission describes the local community as “stunned” at the possibility of mineral exploration. Keep Tulla Untouched has objected to the the prospecting licence on the basis that the original public consultation period, which spanned Christmas, was too short. While this has been extended to January 23, following the intervention of Senator Róisín Garvey, the group insists that there has not been enough information. The submission also asks that “due consideration is given to the fact that these explorations are being considered for areas that are …

PROSPECTING for minerals in parts of Tulla and Bunratty may be give the green light, a government department has said.  The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is accepting submissions up to January 8 on an application from a Meath-based company. The Department has posted a notice of its intention to grant a prospecting licence to Minco Ireland for base metals, barytes, and ores of silver and gold. In the notice, the activity to be allowed is described as “mineral exploration involving desktop studies, geo-chemistry, surface geophysics and drilling”.  A map of the townlands affected is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/507ce-prospecting-licence-notices/ The notice states that, where possible, the details will also be made available at Ennis Garda Station, Clare County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland in Dublin.  The Department has stated that a prospecting licence authorises exploration for mineral deposits, but not the mining of any minerals. “The activities permissible under a licence are, in general, non-invasive and of …