Tara Mines Group of Unions has written to management requesting an urgent meeting to discuss its failure to commence work on the Tara Deep project in-line with the agreement which resulted in the mine’s operations recommencing last year.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “As part of the Sustainability Agreement reached under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in April 2024, which began the process of ending what would be 18 months of layoff for workers, it was agreed that ‘further underground exploration drilling’ would begin before 2027.
“This refers to the Tara Deep, a project to development a new ore body which has the potential to provide a further 40 years of mining in County Meath. Our members’ are not only focused on their employment but also the long-term viability of the mine, that is why this commitment by management was crucial to the 2024 WRC deal. In order to action this union representatives tabled a compromise proposal, to commence underground exploration drilling with immediate effect, at a Sustainability Agreement review meeting on 12th May 2025.”
He added: “If management fails to honour this commitment the Group of Unions will refer the issue to the WRC, so that it can consider how the unambiguous agreement by the Bord of Boliden for further underground exploration in Tara Deep can be enforced.”
SIPTU Organiser, Andrew McGuinness, said: “The company had invested in the development of Tara Deep for four years prior to the Mine going into care and maintenance, with the lay-off of its workforce, in July 2023. At the time of commencement of this development plan, the timeframe was for Tara Deep to come into production in 2029. This timeframe is now ever increasing with Tara Deep development mining having not recommenced following the resumption of other activities at the Mine last year.”
He added: “A failure to commence this development will leave the northeast region without one of its biggest employers in the near future. This will remove a key economic lifeline for the surrounding communities.”