Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)

I support what the Leader of the House said. We introduced the motion in our Private Members' time and, as the Leader said, Senator Mark Daly is welcome to bring his Bill before the House at any stage.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. As Members said, research on the impact of electromagnetic fields, mobile phones, masts and such matters is ongoing. We need to obtain the full findings and I suppose it will never be a done deal in having all the answers. I thank the Minster of State for confirming that he will recommend to the Minister what Senator Crown brought before the House. I also welcome what he said regarding legislation, if it is needed.

Senator Mark Daly, among others, referred to the tobacco industry, one of the major industries of the world. We know how powerful that lobby group was, especially in American politics. It took 43 years to admit to the health risks associated with smoking. We all saw that famous film, the name of which I cannot remember, in which the whistleblower highlighted the fact that information was being suppressed. If mobile phone manufactures have information that should be in the public domain, they should not suppress it. That is the reason we introduced the motion. The information must be made available to us as legislators in Seanad Éireann or in the Dáil, as well as to members of the public because it is they who are the ones who decide in this respect.

All the Senators who spoke made a valuable contribution. Senator John Whelan is correct in pointing out that we cannot introduce an age limit as to when a person can be allowed to use a mobile phone. A recommendation has been made in England regarding media texting by those under the age of 16 years. I agree with Senator John Whelan. When my children were growing up, they asked for a mobile phone. Parents have a responsibility in regard to the age at which they will give their child a mobile phone. Children as young as 8 years old are being given a mobile phone, with which I do not agree. That puts them in a domain where they have contact with others. I am diversifying from the subject of the motion, but all of the social networks in the communications industry, whether it be the Internet, Facebook or Twitter, are in this domain.

I again thank the Minister of State for his time. If the mobile phone operators have information on this matter, it is important that it be made available to us as legislators and the general public.