Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
309. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of the proposed geoscience Bill or any successor legislation relating to mineral exploration and mining regulation; the key legislative reforms being considered; the timeline for Government approval and publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40090/26]
View answerMy Department conducted preliminary planning on the development of legislation to update the regulatory functions for the State’s mining and petroleum sectors including provisions to amend the Minerals Development Act 2017, incorporating changes on foot of more recent legislation at national and EU level, and ensuring a legislative basis for the potential establishment of a new geoscience agency which would incorporate the functions of the Geoscience Regulatory Office and Geological Survey Ireland. This work was intended to support the drafting of a Geoscience Bill.
In order to focus resources on top policy priorities in 2026, and as part of a wider prioritisation exercise conducted by my Department, work on developing the Geoscience Bill has been temporarily paused, with a view to resuming work in 2027. In the meantime, my Department continues to actively engage on all aspects of mineral exploration and mining policy at both national and EU level.
