Debate contribution: Mobile Phone Coverage: West Belfast
Debate contribution by Mr Pat Sheehan on .
- MLA
- Mr Pat Sheehan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 20 May 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Adjournment
- Heading
- Mobile Phone Coverage: West Belfast
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4964597
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
My two colleagues have already outlined major difficulties that exist with the mobile phone network in West Belfast. I live just off the Glen Road, and I can attest to the fact that the signal is woeful. On many occasions, I have had calls drop. On one occasion, I had a phone call from my GP, and, as soon as I answered, the call dropped off. Everybody, I am sure, is aware of how difficult it is to make a phone call to a GP and get an answer. The vandalism to some of the telecommunications network has already been mentioned. It is not just random vandalism; there are some people, who I would describe as the "tinfoil hat brigade", who have been involved in a fairly concerted campaign of vandalism on that particular infrastructure. We have been in contact with the police and the networks in an attempt to ensure that there is better security around that infrastructure and that those responsible are caught and held to account for what they are doing. My two colleagues have already articulated clearly the problems that exist, and I will not detain anyone any longer.
200 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.08 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.68).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.81).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.12 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.25 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.07 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.68 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.08 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.81 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.01 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.15 |
| Adopts it | 0.03 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.50 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.45 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.03 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.01 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:33 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
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