Mobile Phone Antennae on State Property
125. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if licences to install mobile phone base stations on public buildings have been granted to companies (details supplied) since December 2005, either directly through the Office of Public Works or indirectly through sub-licensing agreements with a company or other companies. [8595/06]
126. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance, further to his recent offer to meet residents affected by the installation of new mobile phone base stations at Shankill, his views on whether to meet with parents of children attending schools (details supplied), who are affected by the continued presence of mobile phone base stations on a public building adjacent to the schools. [8596/06]
127. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the licence under which companies (details supplied) have been granted permission to operate mobile phone base stations in Dublin 6. [8597/06]
Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon): I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 to 127, inclusive, together. Two mobile phone companies have been granted a licence by the Commissioners of Public Works to install telecommunications equipment on the State-owned building, Ardee House, in Rathmines.
The Commissioners requested that the companies deactivate their equipment on Ardee House pending the report of the interdepartmental committee on the health effects of electromagnetic radiation. The companies refused to comply with this request and, provided they continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the licence agreement, the Commissioners have no contractual basis for insisting the equipment is deactivated. The companies have not been granted any further licences in respect of State-owned buildings since December 2005.
In the circumstances, I feel a meeting with local parents would not serve any useful purpose at this stage.