THE Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, has been accused by Fianna Fail of engaging in "brass neck politics" over his introduction of new planning regulations to facilitate Esat Digiphone.
Three weeks ago, the Minister said he had no intention of changing the planning regime to make it easier for Esat to erect its mobile phone transmitter network. On Wednesday, however, he gave the company an effective exemption from planning control.
The amended regulations made by Mr Howlin introduce two new classes of exempted development - the attachment of up to 12 mobile telephone antennae to an existing radio mast and the replacement of an existing mast. New masts will continue to need planning approval.
Fianna Fail environment spokesman, Mr Noel Dempsey, accused the Minister of executing a major U turn.
The Safe Communications Council (SCC), which represents several groups opposing the proliferation of transmitter masts, also attacked the Minister's change of tune, and said they would be lobbying TDs of all parties in an effort to have the new regulations set aside.
The chairman of the SCC, Mr Michael Murphy, said he feared that the security of Garda communications would be compromised if a private company was permitted to erect its mobile telephone antennae on Garda stations, as proposed.
He also believed that Garda stations would be picketed by protest groups.
Instead of erecting hundreds of antennae throughout the State, he suggested that Esat and Eircell should be making use of geostationary satellites, such as Planet One. Its charges were just 10 per cent of what they were two years ago. "This is the way forward," he said.
Mr John Royds, technical adviser to the SCC, said the harmful effects of radiation associated with transmitters were currently being studied by the World Health Organisation as well as the EU, Sweden, Australia and the US. "Exposure should be limited pending, the results of these studies.
It was "scandalous that all this technology is being chucked at the public before the latest round of research is completed", he said.
Co locating mobile phone transmitters on other masts would only increase radiation levels, so these sites "would have to be kept well, away from schools and homes, Mr Royds said.
Ms Karen Heneghan, a Dublin based member of the SCC, said she was "very, very annoyed" with Mr Howlin for changing the rules.
She pointed out that her home on Griffith Avenue was "jammed in" between Whitehall Garda station and a Telecom mast feet from the back door, Esat also intended to use.
In his statement on Wednesday, the Minister said his new regulations would give statutory support to the policy of co location recommended by the guidelines on telecommunications antennae which he published last July. This was "a key measure to avoid the unnecessary proliferation of masts".
