Bere islanders meet officials to discuss controversial radio mast

Residents of Bere Island in Co Cork have met Department of the Marine officials to discuss possible acceptance of the controversial Loran-C radio navigation mast.

No decision has as yet been taken by the islanders, and discussions are at a "very early stage", Mr Jack O'Sullivan, committee member of the Bere Island Project Group, told The Irish Times yesterday. "We are awaiting more information from the Department and from the Commissioners of Irish Lights."

About 30 people attended a meeting late last week on the island in Bantry Bay, west Cork, which was addressed by Mr Michael Guilfoyle, assistant secretary of the Department of the Marine. An area on the south of the island which is relatively uninhabited has been identified as one possible location, but would be subject to planning procedures.

The Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, is said to be still committed to erecting the radio-navigation mast at the original site in Loop Head, Co Clare. However, last year he offered to reward any coastal community that would accept it as an alternative. "While we are not in the business of wheeling and dealing, if we do find such a community I will be prepared to look at development possibilities in its area," Mr Fahey said in the Dail.

Community leaders on both Bere Island and Cape Clear, also in Cork, have expressed interest, and there has also been some contact with Fenit island in Co Kerry, a peninsular area just north of Fenit harbour.

A Department of the Marine spokesman stressed yesterday that the decision would rest with the communities. "There has to be a consensus before we could consider proceeding, but Loop Head is still the preferred option," the spokesman said.

Under an international agreement ratified by the Dail in 1992, Ireland is obliged to site the Loran-C mast as part of the North-West European Loran-C system.

This provides a terrestrial alternative to the US-controlled satellite Global Positioning System (GPS). Planning permission was refused at Loop Head by Clare County Council in February 1994, but was granted by An Bord Pleanala in November of that year.

Local opponents who formed the Cross Loran-C Action Group took two legal cases, challenging the powers of An Bord Pleanala and the Commissioners of Irish Lights respectively. In April, 1998, An Bord Pleanala's decision to approve the mast was upheld by the Supreme Court, but the then minister, Dr Woods, decided to review plans to proceed, under local political pressure. He promised a public consultation day which never took place.

Planning permission in Co Clare has now expired.