Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Does CER have a role in regard to the east-west interconnector that is under the Irish Sea because that facilitates the importation of electricity and the possible export of electricity in the future? There are proposals for wind farms and I am sure Mr. Blaney is aware that people want to produce electricity for the export market.

Will the commission be regulating that generation of electricity even though it will not be used or acquired in this country? Does the commission have a role in that regard?

Does Mr. Blaney have information or documentation on how waves emanating from wind farms affect biomedical devices of those living in close proximity to them? Has anyone in the commission examined the issue? Previously, there was talk about radiation from mobile telephone masts and the commission carried out audits. The same questions are now asked about wind farms and the impact they could have on biomedical devices such as implants or pacemakers of people who live within 400 m to 600 m of a wind farm. Does Mr. Blaney have any information on the issue? If not, would it be possible to send to the committee the guidelines the commission follows when dealing with such issues? I am sure public health is a concern of the Commission on Communications Regulation and that it would ensure that nothing could be done that would impact adversely on public health.