Regulation of the recycling industry is needed to stop the theft of local telephone cables.
Gardaí received 66 reports of cable theft in the past 6 months with the vast majority in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, and Meath.
Pat McCormack, President of the ICMSA says records need to be kept by recycling companies similar to those at Co-ops when farmers need pesticides, or medication for animals.
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He says this plight on rural communities is leaving people vulnerable and in an emergency situation a cut phone line may cost a life.
He wants greater transparency, and Government action:
