Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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On the Chairman's point on masts and mobile phone masts, and this is probably not Mr. Dunning's direct area of responsibility, it seems the use of mobile phones has increased exponentially. If the health impact of masts is such that they are detrimental to people's health, surely the health problems should have increased exponentially with the sale of mobile phones. The World Health Organization, WHO, has done a good deal of work in this area. This matter does not come directly under the remit of Mr. Dunning's Department, but perhaps he would communicate with the Department of Health on this. Has that Department noted any rise in the health problems in this respect? If it is logical that mobile phones have an effect on people's health, more people should be reporting that their health is in danger because of the use of mobile phones. It is very difficult to deal with this issue because we do not have any hard and fast evidence on it. Anecdotally, most people have a major fears of masts in any guise. We find that is also the case with wind turbines because, anecdotally, they are supposed to have an effect on people's health. If we had some evidence of that it would be helpful to local authorities and to us in our deliberations.