A Sligo/Leitrim TD says it ‘beggars belief’ that the Green Party Leader and Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, is considering issuing a prospecting license for gold mining in North Leitrim.
Speaking in the Dail this morning, Fianna Fail Deputy, Marc MacSharry, claims Leitrim is the only county in the country where people cannot get planning permission due to the soil quality.
He says the parent company of Flintridge Ltd., who are seeking the license, previously breached guidelines when prospecting
Deputy MacSharry went on to say the gold mining is the ‘most disruptive form of mining’ and that it can lead to the local water supply becoming contaminated.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Ossian Smyth, said a prospecting license does not guarantee mining will take place in the future.
Minister Smyth explained how the process works and says public opinions are currently being considered.
