I welcome the Minister in his capacity as Minister for Defence and particularly in his capacity as Minister for the Marine. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for giving me the opportunity to raise this important matter on the Adjournment.
This matter concerns the construction of a Loran C mast, a navigation mast, in Feeard Cross, Kilbaha, on the Loop Head penninsula in County Clare. The Minister for the Marine has direct responsibility as the people who are proposing to build it are the Irish Lights Commissioners who act as agents of the Minister. The proposed mast is about 720 feet high and will be erected on a site of about 140 acres. The community in the area is concerned about the intrusion of this large mast in a scenic area with tremendous tourist potential. We believe that it will be unsightly and will detract from future tourist development of that area.
More importantly, I would like the Minister to outline the necessity and usefulness of the Loran C system. Initially we were led to believe that it was essential for the safety of fishermen and other sea users. On investigating the case further, it appears that the Loran C system is not necessary for safety at sea because there is a more effective system already in place. The Decca system consists of a number of small unobtrusive stations, located closely together with a much shorter range than the Loran C system. If a Decca station is damaged or breaks down, the area of sea affected is much smaller than in the case of a Loran C station.
It is generally accepted that by the year 2000, the GPS system will be in place around the world. The fishermen in my locality and the Irish Fishermans' Organisation have stated that they do not wish to switch to the Loran C system, because that would cost each fisherman between £2,000 and £3,000, an unacceptable fianancial burden for small to average fishermen, expecially since the GPS system will be introduced around 2000.
Consultation has taken place over the specifics of this proposal and I want to acknowledge the excellent relationship between the community and the Commissioners of Irish Lights over the years. The commissioners have provided employment for many people from the Loop Head area of west Clare. Since this matter was proposed, that relationship has deteriorated somewhat because the consultation that one would have expected did not take place. The first time consultation was sought was when I called the commissioners last November or December. A public meeting was held between Clare County Council and the commissioners at Cross in December. The personnel who attended on behalf of the commissioners were amazed by the level of local opposition. Another meeting was subsequently held in Kilkee on Friday, 12 February where many issues were addressed and valuable and valid contributions made. Many of the large attendance of 300 at that meeting left with feelings of confusion, particularly in relation to the health aspect of the proposal.
The prime concern of the local community in West Clare in this matter is the fear of thermal and athermal radiation emissions from the pulsing system in the mast. To date, worldwide, no conclusion has been arrived at regarding a possible threat of cancer from the system. The jury on the matter is still out and it would be irresponsible for a Government Department to proceed with a project still under investigation.
Local health concerns must be seriously addressed by the Minister. At the Kilkee public meeting, we heard from Professor Walton of University College Galway, a professor of applied physics, and from John Royds, a non-ionising radiation consultant. Persons with no expertise in either area left the meeting feeling confused after hearing two conflicting opinions on the matter. We now hope that the forthcoming McManus report will be able to throw some light on the situation.
The planning regulations in relation to this development leave much to be desired. It is an exempt development and as such the Commissioners and the Department of the Marine can proceed without planning permission from Clare County Council. Consultation has taken place between the Department and various personnel from the commissioners but local voices must be listened to. In a situation where over 90 per cent of the local community are strongly opposed to a development, cognisance must be taken of that fact and those views taken into account. To fail to do so in a democracy would be hypocritical in the extreme.
I urge the Minister to examine this proposal in the light of local community objections and to establish their rights in this important issue. I know the Minister has taken a personal interest and had met a local deputation with great openness. I compliment him on that. The Minister is known for his openness, his directness and his ability to make decisions on the facts. I ask him to bring his open-mindedness to bear on this issue, and to establish specifically whether this mast must necessarily be erected and to assess its usefulness at this point in time. Those two fundamental issues must be addressed and the Minister does so with an open mind, he will realise that there is no need for a Loran C mast at Loop Head.
