The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, is to come before an Oireachtas Committee, following serious complaints about easing planning regulations for mobile telephone companies.
The Environment and Local Government Committee may yet try to secure last-minute alterations in the Minister's Planning and Development Act regulations, it emerged.
The rules will allow disguised mobile telephone antennae to be sited on public and commercial buildings, including schools, without planning permission.
In a letter to the committee, the Minister said extra antennae were needed if service quality was to be maintained, but they would have to comply with "strict conditions and criteria".
"Where the demand for mobile services is low, such as in rural areas, a limited number of base station antennae, each serving a large area, will suffice.
"However, where the demand for services is high, a large number of base station antennae, each serving a very small area, are required," he wrote.
The public wants to use telephones "any time and anywhere. It is necessary to place the antennae close to the location where there is the greatest demand; it is in towns and urban areas and particularly in the commercial areas, where they are required the most.
"The exemption being proposed allows operators to speedily react to increases in demand placed on them by the consumer by installing additional antennae and minimise the potential for congestion on the networks." Ms Olivia Mitchell TD (Fine Gael) said the verdict was still out on whether antennae were safe. "Where we don't know, the precautionary principle should apply." Fianna Fβil Senator Mr Jim Walsh said mobile telephone companies were "not terribly accommodating" when faced with complaints about the siting of antennae.
Representatives of Digifone spent much of yesterday morning briefing members of the committee, arguing in favour of the draft planning regulations.
The company said it shared sites wherever possible, designed antennae sensitively and ensured they complied with all health regulations laid down by the State.
Urging support for the change, Digifone said it would "ensure that Ireland continues to build on its hard-won reputation as a pro-business environment".
