Concerns have been raised over the erection of two mobile phone masts on the roof of Cork University Hospital.
The Southern Health Board (SHB) said yesterday it had received no complaints about the Vodafone and O2 antennae.
However, Green Party TD Mr Dan Boyle said that health concerns regarding mobile phone masts called into question the wisdom of the move by the SHB to grant permission.
"At the time of the planning notice they were asked not to proceed with erection, however they still went ahead with it regardless. We should be careful about this as real concerns about health implications have been raised. It is for purely commercial reasons that these masts have been erected."
He said he has been told there was a five-year lease and that the health board would receive a five-figure sum from the companies. "A health board needs to be funded, but no one seems to have asked about the health risks," said Mr Boyle.
Residents in the area have fought a campaign against the erection of a mobile phone mast in recent years. However, the secretary of the Bishopstown community association, Mr P. J. Hourican, said it had received no complaints from residents. "Anyone would have a concern about health issues, but we had a recent meeting and no one has come forward and voiced their concerns.
"There is a catch-22 situation to this. There are health concerns but people want to use phones. But if these masts were taken down their ability to use them would be removed," he said.
Mobile phone companies O2 and Vodafone were unable to provide spokespeople.