Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the representatives to the committee. They are the experts on radiation and the institute is charged under radiological protection legislation with assessing risk, advising the Government and assessing how it could be mitigated or what is likely to happen in the future. There are many types of types of radiation and we are talking about nuclear radiation in particular here. The Deputy seated to my left mentioned the incidence of radon gas. It is natural that there is concern about Sellafield, and mention of its name switches a light bulb on in people's heads, but that has dissipated other than what happened in Fukushima.

I have a particular interest in another type of radiation, EMF radiation. Does it come within the representatives' area of expertise? Concern about it has people up in arms. People are concerned about the health risks associated with radiation emanating from high voltage power lines. Even though the institute was established with the necessary expertise to protect us, that area does not seem to fall within its remit. Is such radiation a risk to health and what parameters need to be observed to ensure it does not impact on people's health? We must have an honest conversation about this issue. Much of the conversation that is taking place in the different parts of the country that will be affected by proposals for these lines is fractious and nobody believes anybody. How safe are 400 kV lines in terms of observing safe practice when they are located near houses, schools and centres of population? What is the practice across Europe and does laying the cables underground compound the problem or enhance safety? I am not talking about their visual impact, just their health impact. We go to many meetings and all we are being told is their impact in terms of cancer. There is not one person or family who is not concerned. I would appreciate it if the representatives could given me the science on this.