Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Killeen, for coming in to deal with it.

I fully support the North-South electricity interconnector. There has been a great change since the last one was put in place, which lay idle for 30 years because of the violence in Northern Ireland. We are pleased with the present level of co-operation North and South because it will ensure the supply of electricity in a growing market and will hopefully reduce the cost. Nobody at the meetings I attended opposed this connector.

I am aware that this is primarily a matter for EirGrid, not directly for the Government. My colleague, Deputy Margaret Conlon, and I attended many meetings in County Monaghan where concern was expressed about the visual impact of the interconnector. EirGrid will consider this in the planning process under the strict guidelines of the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The issue of prime concern is health, and people were unanimous that the cable should be underground. I ask EirGrid to consider whether this is possible.

The health concerns expressed are similar to those expressed when telephone masts were erected. However, I am satisfied that there is no serious health risk regarding low frequency power lines. I believe the State bodies involved will adhere to the strict guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection, the World Health Organisation and the European Union. This does not, however, solve the problem of those who fear they are at risk.

The most important point I will make tonight relates to communication. EirGrid must communicate with all stakeholders, including those who live along the proposed routes from which one will be selected. EirGrid must contact each household and ensure people's health fears are alleviated because, while this matter poses no direct risk to one's health, lying awake at night worrying about a perceived risk could damage a person's health. I ask that EirGrid examine the possibility of running cabling underground as this would alleviate the fears of all concerned. The company must also ensure that factual information on this issue is made available to the public because there was a great deal of misinformation at the meetings we attended and many people are frightened by what is happening. It is important that these fears are dealt with and this can be done if EirGrid contacts all householders and invites them to attend explanatory meetings where the relevant information is available and people can make up their own minds.

We support this project and hope to see it proceed but would like to see it supported by local stakeholders, which can be achieved if their anxiety is alleviated.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Rory O'Hanlon for the opportunity to comment on the issue of electromagnetic radiation associated with 400kv power lines.

The Government published earlier this year the report of the expert group on the health effects of electromagnetic fields. The expert group was established by an inter-departmental committee that examined Government policy regarding the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields, EMF, with reference to the recommendations of the 2005 report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, titled "Non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts".

The report examined a wide range of issues relating to the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields, including those produced by mobile telecommunications. It answers many questions commonly raised by the public regarding the health effects of electromagnetic fields and can be downloaded from the Department's website, www.environ.ie.

With regard to extremely low frequency, ELF, fields emitted by electricity power lines, including 400kv power lines, the report concluded that there is limited scientific evidence of adverse health effects. The expert group has recommended that precautionary measures be used where appropriate and that Ireland continue to adopt and enforce the international guidelines developed by the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection and endorsed by the World Health Organisation and the European Union. For example, where possible new power lines should be sited away from heavily populated areas and where major new power lines are to be constructed there should be stakeholder input on the routing.

The Government also decided that the responsibilities of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources regarding the health effects of EMF would become the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 1 May 2007. Furthermore, it was decided that a single State agency should be established to deal both with ionising radiation and non-ionising radiation. This will be achieved by extending the statutory powers of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to include responsibility for matters relating to non-ionising radiation. The details of implementation of the new mandate for the RPII will be presented to Government for approval in due course by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, following detailed consultation with other relevant Government Departments and agencies.

The Government has also agreed to establish a national research programme to undertake further scientific research in Ireland on the health effects of exposure to EMF. This research programme will build expertise in Ireland and contribute to global knowledge.

With regard to the planning aspect of power lines, section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides planning authorities with the discretionary power to grant planning permission, subject to conditions as appropriate, to the individual project. Under the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006 An Bord Pleanála has powers to attach conditions in respect of applications made to it under the new strategic consent process. With regard to electricity transmission lines specifically, this means that planning authorities and the board already have powers to require that power lines be placed underground if, for example, they are in close proximity to inhabited dwellings or exceed a particular voltage.

The interpretation and implementation of planning legislation is a matter for the planning authority concerned in each case and ultimately for the courts. However, the legislation sets out that in making decisions on planning applications planning authorities must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant ministerial or Government policies.