Vol. 443 No. 9
19 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine the proposed functions of the Loran C mast at Loop Head, County Clare; if he can give an assurance that the mast will not be used for military purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Loran C is a land-based radio navigation system used extensively throughout the world. The Loran C system in North Western Europe is being expanded, under an International Agreement signed by Ireland and five other North Atlantic Governments in 1992. The purpose is to ensure the availability of an independent cost-effective system as a land-based alternative to the US military satellite global positioning system, GPS. It will significantly improve the safety of navigation and protection of the marine environment in North-West Europe generally and in Irish waters in particular.
The International Agreement was primarily designed to ensure the availability of an independent European-controlled radio navigation system for civilian and commercial use. The Irish Loran C facility will be Irish-owned and will be operated and controlled by the Commissioners of Irish Lights on behalf of the Irish authorities. While planning permission for the mast was not statutorily required, I requested the Commissioners of Irish Lights to apply for planning permission so that all relevant issues could be openly examined and debated through the mechanism of the planning process.
Planning permission to erect the proposed Loran C mast near Loop Head was refused by the planning authority and the Commissioners of Irish Lights have appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála. I understand that an oral hearing will be held in Ennis on 28 June 1994.
Is it the intention to comply with the final decision of the planning authorities, given that it was not necessary to apply for planning permission? Will the Minister comment on the claim that Loran C is capable of and may be used for military purposes, which may infringe on the policy of successive Irish Governments of non-involvement with military alliances of one kind or another?
Of course the Department will comply with the law. Presumably, if the decision goes against Loran C under the provisions of the planning Acts and if there is a further avenue open, again within the law, that would have to be examined. On the question of military or non-military use, Loran C can be used by anybody who purchases a receiver which I understand can cost from as little as a few hundred pounds. Naturally all ships, commercial, pleasure or naval, will use Loran C if they buy a receiver. Incidentally, that is equally true of the existing Decca system operated by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. As far as we are concerned, we will not engage in the use of Loran C, if it ever comes into being, as a navigational system here. I give the House an undertaking that we certainly will not be involved in its usage within a military context but for civilian purposes only.
