John Gormley

Mr. Gormley:  I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of urgent public importance, namely, the decision by the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to allow a mobile phone base station to be installed on Ardee House in Rathmines beside St. Mary’s College and junior school and close to St. Louis’ school, given that the Stewart report in Britain has stated categorically that such an installation should not be placed near to schools, and the need for the Minister, Deputy McDowell, whose area this is, to ensure that his Progressive Democrats colleague, Deputy Parlon, would reconsider this irresponsible decision which poses a threat to children in the Dublin South-East constituency. (more…)

Mr. Gormley: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter. I very much regret that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, is not here this evening to answer.

The proposal to install a mobile phone base station in Ardee House, Ardee Road, Rathmines, arises from a review commissioned by the Minister’s Department “to assess the suitability of the State property portfolio for use in the mobile telecommunications sector”. The idea is to charge mobile operators for a licence to install and operate telecommunications antennae on public buildings. It appears that the very first public building to be the subject of such a licence is Ardee House, an OPW building that houses the Central Statistics Office. (more…)

Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a mobile phone mast is being erected on the roof of the OPW buildings in Rathmines close to a school; if he shares concerns of local residents that this poses a serious health threat to the neighbourhood and particularly to school children; if he will therefore reconsider locating the mast in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32853/04] (more…)