Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I second the motion. I welcome the Minister of State from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy John Browne, to the House to address this serious issue. I look forward to hearing his response and that of the Government.

In May or June last I raised this issue and was advised that the Government was studying the report of the all-party Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, published some years ago, and would make recommendations in a few months. That period must have almost expired. Will the Government respond soon to this report?

While we recognise that communities throughout the country are concerned about this issue, in this era of modern telecommunications we must ensure the public is as well served in this respect as its European neighbours. When the EU ambassador to Washington, the former Taoiseach, John Bruton, addressed this House previously, he said this country must remain competitive and maintain its economic progress. Telecommunications plays a key role in that regard. However, there are genuine fears in certain areas where proposals have been made to erect more telephony masts.

It is almost an invisible enemy, difficult to quantify. Senator Finucane pointed out how asbestos was viewed when it first became widely used. In 40 years' time people might look back with a different perspective on telecommunications masts and ask why stronger action was not taken at the time.

It is important that the Government has a national policy on telecommunications masts because local authorities have varying responses to planning applications for them. There is no standard approach to the erection of masts and co-location. Should they be placed near town centres, schools or shopping centres? An Bord Pleanála is taxed with many appeals on planning applications for masts. The Government must respond to the report commissioned by the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. A Government policy needs to be put in place to ensure planning applications for a mobile telephony mast, whether they be in Cork or Donegal, are to the same standard.

When environmental issues are debated at protest meetings, certain phrases take on a great life of their own. Five years ago, one would never have heard the term "precautionary principle". It is now wisely used because people are concerned. We must also strike a balance to ensure our ongoing economic progress. In many areas complaints relate not to a mobile telephony mast but the lack of a mobile telephony service. We must still respond to the fears about health issues. It is difficult to accept that mobile telephony masts would be positioned near schools, playgrounds or large centres of population. Even from a visual aspect they should be located in as isolated a place as is possible. The co-location argument is to the fore in several communities in north County Cork. Some townlands could end up with three masts. We must be strong in demanding co-location.

The Government amendment refers to the World Health Organisation and other reports. While they provide a scientific carte blanche, many communities find it difficult to accept. Further reassurances must be offered to these communities. The Government must be seen to have a strong national policy on the matter. The Minister of State is armed with the independent report commissioned by the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources which contained sensible recommendations made on locating telecommunications masts. It gives him a mandate to introduce the report's recommendations.

People often inform their public representatives that the reassurances offered to them about the long-term health and safety aspects of living near mobile telephone masts are not strong enough. Where there are genuine fears, we must fully investigate them and put a mechanism in place to give more assurances. In ten or 15 years' time, the mobile telephony system may be entirely satellite-based. Currently, while the masts are a requirement, we must ensure they are located sensitively and in a reassuring manner. The Minister of State gave commitments several months ago to act on various reports on the matter. I hope he will fulfil them and a clear Government line is introduced shortly.