Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

The National Radiological Protection Board in January 2005 published the report, Mobile Phones and Health 2004, to provide further advice to address remaining public concerns in the United Kingdom about mobile telephone technology as well as related technological developments. It also reviews progress on implementing the recommendations in the Stewart report published in 2000.

The report states in general that the board believes the main conclusions reached in the Stewart report still apply and a precautionary approach, that is, where there are uncertainties about the associated risks of using mobile telephone technologies, should continue to be adopted; in the absence of new scientific evidence the recommendation in the Stewart report on limiting the use of mobile telephones by children remains appropriate as a precautionary measure; and measurements made by the NRPB demonstrate that there is no scientific basis for establishing minimal distances between base stations and areas of public occupancy, as has been suggested in some countries.

Other than referring to the recommendations of the Stewart report of 2000, the report does not make a specific recommendation on the positioning of mobile telephone masts near schools. The article referred to, which featured in the Irish Independent on 12 January 2005, appears to refer to comments made by the chairman of the NRPB, Sir William Stewart, during an interview to mark the launch of the report.

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