100 signatures reached
To: Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Darragh O'Brien
End mining research in Joyce Country and Connemara
To cease granting prospecting licences in Joyce Country and Connemara
Why is this important?
I ask our government and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications; Darragh O'Brien to reconsider the issuing of prospecting licences in the Connemara area, and more specifically in The Barony of Ross, (PL4563 & PL4564) within Joyce Country; REF: M. A. 312/7
These prospecting licences are intended to be issued to Gold Note Minerals c/o BTU Metals Corp. for base metals, barytes, silver, gold and platinum group metals.
While these prospecting licences only permit the boring of holes to collect information and are part of the research stage around the mineral content in the ground they are the early stages of potential for an application to be made for a licence to mine said minerals.
These communities, and communities in the greater Connemara area do not want to see a mine established in what are fragile landscapes that have already long suffered from a lack of investment and opportunity and whose populations and nature are declining.
Our government is actively promoting Ireland as being "Open for Business" to Canadian mining companies through CETA, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, though not yet having ratified it.
Locally elected representatives have frequently supported the view that the Connemara area is not suited to mining, including Seán Kyne, who formerly held the role of minister with responsibility for mining.
Prospecting licences are seen as "due process" in mineral exploration but we would ask the government and minister to reconsider granting those licences in areas that a mine is not likely to be given permission, because under CETA, if ratified, mining companies could potentially sue the state if they feel their investments were harmed by state actions.
Peition closes 25/03/26
These prospecting licences are intended to be issued to Gold Note Minerals c/o BTU Metals Corp. for base metals, barytes, silver, gold and platinum group metals.
While these prospecting licences only permit the boring of holes to collect information and are part of the research stage around the mineral content in the ground they are the early stages of potential for an application to be made for a licence to mine said minerals.
These communities, and communities in the greater Connemara area do not want to see a mine established in what are fragile landscapes that have already long suffered from a lack of investment and opportunity and whose populations and nature are declining.
Our government is actively promoting Ireland as being "Open for Business" to Canadian mining companies through CETA, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, though not yet having ratified it.
Locally elected representatives have frequently supported the view that the Connemara area is not suited to mining, including Seán Kyne, who formerly held the role of minister with responsibility for mining.
Prospecting licences are seen as "due process" in mineral exploration but we would ask the government and minister to reconsider granting those licences in areas that a mine is not likely to be given permission, because under CETA, if ratified, mining companies could potentially sue the state if they feel their investments were harmed by state actions.
Peition closes 25/03/26
How it will be delivered
By post to Geoscience Regulation Office