Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 3

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Masts.

Ivor Callely

Question:

145 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his Department's role, if any, in relation to the licensing of mobile phone masts and cell sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10980/97]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Dukes)

Operators of mobile telephony services are required to hold a licence, granted by my Department, under section 111 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. These licences authorise the provision of service and the building of the necessary telecommunications infrastructure including masts and cell sites.

The licences also require that operators comply with the internationally accepted standards in relation to emissions of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation. The Director of Telecommunications Regulation who will be appointed shortly pursuant to the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996 will, in the context of his/her function of ensuring compliance with licence conditions, have responsibility to arrange monitoring of such emissions.

In addition, section 3 of the Wireless Telegraph Act, 1926 provides that no person may keep or have in his possession, instal, maintain, work or use apparatus for wireless telegraphy except in so far as this is done in accordance with a licence granted by my Department. The purpose of this prohibition is to ensure effective use of the radio frequency spectrum, which is a limited national resource, and to avoid interference between radio systems.

The radio apparatus associated with mobile phone masts and cell sites must, therefore, be licensed. Licensing conditions imposed in licences are confined to issues relating to the orderly use of the radio frequency spectrum and prevention of interference.

The licences referred to above do not,per sé, relate specifically to individual masts or cell sites. The location is a given site may be identified in a wireless telegraphy licence where this is necessary for radio frequency planning purposes because of the type of radio transmission operated from that site.

These licensing requirements do not absolve the licensee from any requirement in law to obtain whatever additional consents, permissions, authorisations or licences which may be necessary for the provision of the service.