Open consultation Review of Mineral Licensing - Call for Evidence

Summary

The Department for the Economy (the Department) is seeking views and evidence to inform the development of a future minerals policy for Northern Ireland. This CfE is part of a review aimed at ensuring future policy supports sustainable economic development, contributes to the transition to low carbon technologies and reflects best practice in environmental stewardship, social responsibility and good governance.

Evidence gathered will inform the development of mineral licensing policy options. Those policy options will be subject to full public consultation and other appropriate assessments

Consultation description

Ministerial Foreword

As Economy Minister, I am committed to bringing forward a new minerals policy for this region. This Call for Evidence is an opportunity for you to help shape an approach that supports economic development, advances the transition to net zero and protects our natural environment.

The development of mineral resources must be guided by sustainability, fairness, and community benefit, ensuring activity is ethical, environmentally responsible and delivers tangible value to local communities. 

We are committed to a just transition - one that supports workers, empowers communities, and ensures economic opportunity does not come at the expense of environmental integrity. I encourage all stakeholders to contribute evidence to help us build a new policy that serves the public interest, supports the economy and safeguards our natural heritage for future generations.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald 

Minister for the Economy

Consultation information

Detailed information about this consultation is available at the following link

• Review of Mineral Licensing

Who Can Respond

We recognise the broad range of stakeholders, each of whom may have unique perspectives and insights to offer on specific topics. We invite stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to contribute their knowledge and experiences including:

• Community organisations and members of the public
• Industry experts and mineral developers
• Environmental advocate and conservation groups
• Local authorities and planning bodies
• Other Government Departments and bodies
• Academics and researchers
• Policymakers
• Any other interested parties

When submitting a response please indicate whether you are replying as an individual or on behalf of an organisation. If responding on behalf of an organisation, please specify the name of the organisation and describe, if applicable, the process by which members' views were gathered.

We encourage you to respond to this consultation online where possible, as this is the Department’s preferred method of receiving responses. It is also the most convenient and simple way for you to make a response. 

Please use “Future Minerals Policy Call for Evidence” in the subject line if submitting your response by email.

Where appropriate, please use the question numbers to clearly indicate which questions your answer relates to.

If you require an alternative format (Braille, audio, CD, etc.), please contact us on mineralsreview@economy-ni.gov.uk and appropriate arrangements will be made as soon as possible.

Confidentiality

The CfE Report will not contain personal information from your response but may include anonymised direct quotes from it.  However, you are asked to note that any information provided in responses may be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 or the Data Protection Act 2018. 

Within your response, please identify any information which you do not wish to be disclosed (other than personal information that could be used to identify you as an individual) and explain why you regard that information as confidential. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the Department. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances.

Further information can be found at:  

• Minerals and Petroleum Branch Privacy Notice.