The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is being criticised today for his stance on prospecting licences for North Leitrim.
Fintridge Resources based in Omagh is seeking a prospecting license from Minister Eamonn Ryan to search for gold and silver deposits across dozens of townlands in the county.
The issue was raised in the Dail by local TD Marion Harkin, who urged the Environment Minister to reconsider his department's intention to grant the licence.
Public consultation is currently open on the licence process with submissions open until Sunday the 7th of November.
The Sligo Leitrim TD argued that any prospecting licence will lead to a mining application should a commercial deposit be found, and such operations could cause significant environmental damage.
Addressing Minister Ryan in the Dail Chamber, Deputy Harkin says it irresponsible to grant a prospecting licence on the assumption nothing further will come from it:
Responding to the local TD, Minister Eamonn Ryan says local concerns over the possibility of mining taking place should only be raised in the case a deposit is found:
