400 objections to
exploration licences
by Linda McGrory
THERE will be no Gold Rush in Inishowen if the
unprecedented level of objection to a recent
prospecting licence application is heeded by the
Government.
A whopping 400 objections have been submitted to the
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources in a bid to stop it granting licences to
Grosvenor Exploration and Mining Services to
prospect for diamonds, gem minerals and gold in East
and North Inishowen including parts of Moville and
Carn.
A department spokesperson said it was "rare" for so
many objections to be lodged at the prospecting
stage.
"It's a large number and it's rare for objections to
be lodged to prospecting licences," said spokesman,
John King.
Putting it in perspective, he said there are over
500 prospecting licences issued throughout Ireland.
There were just 13 objections to the granting of
exploration licences in South Donegal.
But Mr King said there were currently 16 exploration
licences in Co Donegal held by three companies to
which there were no objections whatsoever. These
exploration licences were granted to Midas Mineral
Resources in May 2009 to cover areas in Inishowen;
Lenagold, in August 2009 to cover areas in South
Donegal and Oriel Selection Trust, in February 2010
for areas in mid-Donegal.
The local objections were submitted in a relatively
short period of time before the closing date of May
6.
Carndonagh and Community Rural Development Company
chairman, Raymond Doherty, said he was delighted at
the level of objection to the application.
"There has been a resounding No from the people of
Inishowen to any prospecting for gold. As I said
before, we have to decide whether we want tourism or
mining in the peninsula," said Mr Doherty.
He said it was now incumbent upon local councillors
and cross-party public representatives to back-up
the people's wishes and ensure no prospecting
licences are granted to Louth-based Grosvenor.
"We want to know what is going on at every stage of
this application from now on and we would expect all
our public representatives to keep on top of it too
because that is what they are elected for.” |
