ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
Message from the President by Nicola Nixon, IMQS President Welcome to our 2021 Annual Review. It has been an interesting and trying year since our last Annual Review but we have all adjusted and found ways to carry on, as the saying goes ‘it is not the situation but how we respond to the situation that is important’ and I’m pleased to say the industry has shown great strength over the last year. The Covid pandemic has undoubtedly been the defining global health crisis of our time. As we saw last year, the extractive industry was quick to respond, with employee safety and economic recovering being the driving factors. This swift response had helped alleviate some of the impact felt by local communities and supply chains. The industry in Ireland had the knowledge to face the pandemic head on effectively and efficiently and implement the required protocols allowing most operations to continue in a safe manner. With many households depending on our industry it was imperative that this happened. Covid 19 has affected many parts of our society and our lives, many organisations, including our own, have shifted to the virtual platform for meetings and conferences. While online webinars and the like were certainly running before the pandemic, they have now become an essential and necessary way to communicate. This switch to virtual platforms has allowed our industry to reach further afield. It has allowed some of our more remote colleagues to be in attendance and opened a new networking base that will continue.
HEALTH & SAFETY The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and The Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) jointly embraced these online avenues with opportunities to reach the industry during the difficult times by supporting the Spring Quarry Safety Campaign 2021. During the campaign, the HSA carried out quarry inspections and the ICF along with the HSA hosted a series of online presentations. They were a great success and very well attended.
WEBINAR The IMQS hosted our Planning and Innovation Seminar in Oct 2020. This was an online event with four speakers, Mike Lowther (LKAB)-The Mine of the Future,
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Minister Damien English (centre of photo) launched the Geo Drilling Apprenticeship in November 2019.
Sean Higgins (Sitech) Advances in Drone Technology, Liam Smyth (ICF) Recent Planning Issues and Jim Holmes (HSA) Quarry Health and Safety. The topical presentations were well-received and good attendance reported. We will keep our members informed of upcoming events in our newsletter and via the website.
QUARRY & MINING
In October, the IMQS held a virtual meeting with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. This meeting gave us an excellent platform to introduce ourselves while outlining the aims and goals of our society and our members. It also allowed us to bring home the importance of the Industry in Ireland and with the correct foresight in planning and regulations how it can be a sustainable and social aware industry.
It is reported that the construction sector foresees positive hiring plans for the final quarter of the year and it is one sector that is experiencing ‘renewed optimism’. Issues over the past year with supply of parts and components necessary for maintaining production has caused delays in certain areas.
The quarry industry contributes significantly to the Irish economy and the past year has been one of uncertainty. The demands on housing and long-term strategy plans from the Government under their Project Ireland 2040 are positive prosects ahead for the sector.
In mining, Boliden Tara Mines, Co. Meath reached a milestone with their 100 millionth tonne being milled this year since 1977. Systematic exploration by Tara has added considerably to the orebody originally estimated to be 70 million tn. The Financial Times appointed Boliden, the only mining and metals company, as a Climate Leader in Europe while their Northern Ireland counterparts, Dalradian achieved Carbon Neutral Plus certificate by minimising emissions. Congratulations to both on their achievements and the positive impact this has on the portrayal of mining and the environment. The Dalradian Community Fund also expanded to include Fermanagh and so far £1.1 million has been invested in a wide range of community projects benefitting in excess of 600 community groups. Galantas have made an agreement with
