Granting of controversial mineral licences an erosion of democracy, claim campaigners
The licences, granted to four companies, permit searches for minerals — excluding gold and silver — across areas in at least three counties with the potential for future approval of full-scale mining operations.
A consultation on licence applications was published by the Department for the Economy (DfE) on May 8 and shows that out of a total of 2,163 responses, 2,153 (99.5%) were objections.
Communities Against Mining (CAM) warned that Caoimhe Archibald's decision to grant seven prospecting licences 'flies in the face of overwhelming public opposition, environmental risks, and multiple legal obligations' and accused the minister of failing to refer 'this cross-cutting matter' to the Executive Committee in line with Section 20 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Martin Tracey said the move breaches the Good Friday Agreement's principles of partnership and collective governance.
'Ninety-nine per cent of the public responses in the consultation oppose the issuing of the prospecting licences,' he said.
'The Sinn Fein minister dismissed those objections with indifference and issued the licences anyway.'
Mr Tracey also said no Strategic Environmental Assessment or Equality Impact Assessment has been conducted 'despite evidence that rural, border communities will disproportionately bear the impact'.
'Communities Against Mining call for an immediate suspension of these licences and a full, independent investigation into the department's conduct in this matter.'
At the beginning of this year, a public inquiry into NI's largest-ever mining project in the Sperrin Mountains was suspended after Stormont failed to consult the Irish Government about potential cross-border impacts.
The move came after it was found that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) failed to properly consult on 'transboundary' issues relating to the proposals.
Mr Tracey said the issue that collapsed the probe into the controversial goldmine 'has unexplainably been ignored by the minister' in arriving at her decision to grant seven new licences.
SDLP economy spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin also slammed the move.
The Foyle MLA said the decision directly contradicts Ms Archibald's previous support for a moratorium on new licences.
'This is a deeply disappointing and unjustifiable decision by the economy minister,' Ms McLaughlin added.
'It is a slap in the face to the communities in these areas who made their objections loud and clear and who have now been ignored.'
A DfE spokesperson said it is carrying out a comprehensive review of mineral licensing.
'In the meantime, the process for providing a mineral prospecting licence is set out in law and cannot lawfully be contravened by a minister,' they added.
'A detailed explanation for the decisions, based on the existing legislative framework, has been published on the DfE website.
'These licences are for prospecting only. They do not allow for mining or extraction of minerals. It is also important to point out that the department has no role in the licensing of gold and silver exploration, which remains within the remit of the Crown Estate.'
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All victims should feel very clearly in our system that their loved ones mattered equally. 'Unfortunately, we've had a number of announcements on part of legacy, but not on the rest, and that leaves many victims and survivors concerned about what's happening in relation to that.'
