Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Late last year a committee of departmental and other experts was established to investigate electromagnetic fields and health concerns related to mobile phone masts and it is due to report in June. Yesterday Senator Scanlan mentioned An Bord Pleanála and this week in Kilmeady in County Limerick, where the council had turned down a mobile phone mast, the decision was overturned by An Bord Pleanála. The same has happened recently in Ballygunner in County Waterford and Ennis in County Clare.

In all three locations, the inspector from An Bord Pleanála upheld the councils' decisions and recommended refusal of the masts. In all three cases, the board itself overturned that decision. What is the point of having an inspector who goes out, inspects, considers the facts and comes back with a definitive assessment if his decision is then overturned by people who have not even seen the location or the mast? It makes a farce of An Bord Pleanála. That is why I fully support Senator Scanlan's call for An Bord Pleanála to come before the House. I would love to see those faceless people in that organisation try to answer the questions we encounter.