Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to whom Eircom is responsible, or regulated by, in relation to matters of health and safety, falling poles and dangerous overhead cables. [12927/14]
View answerThe owner of any physical structure is required by section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the structure is not a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road. If any structure, including telecommunications infrastructure, is such a hazard or potential hazard the Local Authority, for the area in which the structure is situated, may serve a notice in writing on the owner to remove, modify or carry out specified works in relation to the structure within the period stated in the notice. Any dispute between a landowner and the company about any structure which is not located on a public road and is not a hazard to users of a public road is a matter to be resolved between the parties in dispute. The health and safety obligations of the company are the relevant provisions of law applicable to companies generally when performing as a contracting body, employer, provider of goods or services, the owner and operator of a significant physical infrastructure network including retail shops open to the public and all other potential employer and public liability risks which can arise, depending on the circumstances and activities in any particular case.
I have no statutory role in regulating such activities.
