Protesters at Cork University Hospital have demanded the removal of O2 and Vodafone phone mast equipment attached to the building, citing their concern for the health and safety of people in the area.
John Cummins of Better Environmental and Safer Telecommunications said yesterday it was highly irresponsible for a hospital to facilitate mobile phone operators by allowing antennae to be situated on its building.
He said the hospital should follow the example of Sligo General Hospital where recent proposals for phone masts were rejected by management, forcing Vodafone to withdraw its application for permission. Proposals for a mast had been strongly opposed by the Irish Nurses' Organisation, hospital staff and Siptu.
Mr Cummins said a recent report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources had called for a ban on phone masts near sensitive areas. These were deemed to be in particular hospitals, schools, health centres, creches and playgrounds.
About 20 protesters, including Cork Green Party TD Dan Boyle, took part in the demonstration.
A spokesman for the Health Service Executive Southern Area said the antennae served a variety of purposes including the forging of a vital link between ambulance services in Cork University Hospital and St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital. "There is also transmitting equipment used for links between CUH and St Finbarr's Hospital and between the hospital and the ambulance base at Kinsale Road."
Cork Green Party councillor Chris O'Leary, who attended the protest, said the issue of electrosensitivity was becoming increasingly common as more and more masts were erected. Electrosensitivity is a condition where people suffer headaches, nausea and muscle pains when exposed to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, computer screens and electricity pylons.
Mr O'Leary said there were already nine masts in Mahon where he lived on the south side of Cork city. Residents in Mahon are lodging an opposing submission to a Vodafone Ireland application for a 52.35-metre telecommunications mast on the grounds of the National Software Centre.