Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Co-location should be encouraged in that situation. Because of commercial discipline, the mobile telephone companies will not make that decision unless a directive is given to them. They will pay lip service to the idea of co-location, but because of a tested arrangement in different companies, they can always say they requested co-location with the other companies but it was not possible. It does not happen. As we have more than 4,500 mobile telephone masts in this country, only 250 of which are co-located, it is time we examined the situation.

Local authorities should include a telecommunications section in their county development plans. When a mast is erected in an area most of us are invited to a public meeting. Concerns are often expressed in such meetings about people accessing the Internet and finding out information about health risks and other issues. It is a pity the local authorities or the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources do not have a fact-finding thesis about these masts on their web sites to explain the situation rather than leaving people to go through the planning process and make their objections by trial and error.

I have been interested in the discussion about this motion. It is disappointing the motion was not supported by the Government. The Minister has emphasised what we said about the WHO jury being out on the health aspects of mobile telephone masts and we agree with him. I would take cognisance of what Sir William Stewart said in his definitive 2000 document on mobile telephones in the UK. He advocated the precautionary principle in school situations. A directive should be made that masts should not be allowed near schools, community centres or large concentrations of houses. If we were sincere in our approach we would do that.

I expressed my concern earlier on 3G licences and the new technology. Will this lead to a forest of extra masts throughout the country? In the UK, £22.5 billion was paid by a number of companies to get a 3G licence. It is huge revenue for the Government. The Office of Public Works stated recently that erecting masts at Garda stations and so on is a good revenue earner.

It is time we considered this matter and that is why I tabled the motion this evening. I am glad I did so and I thank Members for their support.