Ms Laura Burke:

I will start with the non-ionising radiation question and then we can talk about the water side of things. As recently as July of this year the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government commissioned the national institute for public health in the Netherlands, RIVM, to prepare a report that synthesises existing research on non-ionising radiation with a particular focus on the health effects of electric and magnetic fields arising from high-voltage power lines and also electromagnetic fields from base stations for mobile communications. It will also assess the management of electromagnetic fields related to issues in other jurisdictions - how other countries address the matter. The countries chosen are France, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The goal, as I understand it, is to have a final report that includes balanced scientific information on the health effects and on how other countries deal with the issue. I understand the report will be completed in the first quarter of next year and will lead on to the question of whether there should be a different approach in Ireland. As the Deputy rightly said, the EPA has no current role in this regard. Whether we have such a role in the future will depend partly on the outcome of this report. The EPA is represented on the group's steering committee. That is the situation at the moment, but I know there is active work by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in that area.

With regard to climate and zero fossil carbon energy, the first thing to say is that the EPA is not an expert on wind energy. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has done a considerable amount of research in this area and would be the expert body. We agree with the Deputy that everything should be on the table. Wind energy, hydro, wave and biomass all need to be considered and assessed. We made a submission to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the Green Paper on energy. I would be more than happy to supply a copy of that submission to this committee if it was of interest.