Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the news of the establishment of this task force but a recent merger of two major mobile phone companies in this country will result in a loss of 880 masts. That is a serious loss, especially in rural communities. I ask that the Minister urge ComReg to step in to stop the taking down of those masts. One company had 1,880 and the other had 1,300, totalling more than 3,100. Now there will be a loss of 880, which is incredible. There has been a major loss of mobile reception and people who were experiencing difficulties in quite a number of areas prior to this, now have no mobile reception. West Cork, in particular, has been hit very badly. I refer to places such as Corran, Skibbereen, Bantry, Kilbrittain, Bandon and the towns throughout that region. It has not only impacted on one area, the three peninsulas of Mizen, Sheep's Head and Beara have also been hit. I presume the experience has been the same in other parts of rural Ireland. I urge the Minister to get ComReg to step in to stop this. There are planning issues around erecting masts but existing masts are now been taken down.

See this speech in context