Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator MacSharry for sharing time with me. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power. It is interesting the Minister of State who is now in attendance is attached to the Department of Health and Children. Considerable concern has been expressed in this debate on the issue of health and how telecommunications antennae have the potential to affect the health of certain sections of society, especially children.

There are two elements to the debate. The first one relates to antennae. Some people confuse the issue of masts and antennae. A mast has no impact on one's health. It is the piece of equipment on the mast — the antenna — that is the cause of concern. Many people are concerned about the visual presence of masts and their capacity to affect the value of their property. They are concerned only with property values. It is the antennae which, in effect, emit the non-ionising radiation. They are on the sides of buildings in many locations. In some cases they do not even require planning permission. The mast is the structure that requires planning permission. An unnecessary hype is often created around masts when the focus should be really on antennae and what they do.

A number of contentious issues surround telecommunications masts in County Clare. Some of these relate purely to masts and property values but others relate to concerns about the siting of antennae close to children. I welcome the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, that he hopes to have the interdepartmental committee's expert review of the Oireachtas joint committee's findings dealt with quickly, hopefully, if not by the end of the year then early next year. In some cases with which I am familiar there are concerns in the localities because the masts are sited close to schools. Senator Daly referred to a contentious case in Ennis where a mast is located next to the playing grounds of Éire Óg GAA Club. It is also next door to the location of a new school which was announced today on the Ashline site for Ennis national school and it is close to Cahercalla Hospital and a residential area. The mast is in close proximity to centres where there are large numbers of people for a continuous period of time. I accept the mast may have an effect on the value of neighbouring properties but of more concern is the impact on the children who will be studying and playing in close proximity to it and on the patients in the hospital.

We need clarity in terms of assuring the public on the safety of antennae. Information would appear to suggest that some people are sensitive to non-ionising radiation. The Minister of State referred to this in his contribution. We have seen people who have been affected by it. Nobody is able to determine the long-term ramifications and more information is required. Until such time as the information is available we must be careful to adhere to the guidelines that are set down. It is not good enough to state there are no findings that show potential negative impacts on people's health. It is important that guidelines are in place to ensure masts are located as far as possible away from people and that their lives are not affected by them.