Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Dowd, ó mo chontae, go dtí an Teach. For many years no substantial link has been established between the use of mobile phones and detriment to health. Over the years many eminent scientists have completed several - Senator Daly suggested it is thousands - studies in various parts of the world, but none has established conclusively a direct link between the use of mobile phones and increased incidence in cancer. Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones as possibly carcinogenic. More research is needed to substantiate the risk and prove beyond doubt there is a relationship between the frequent use of mobile phones and health issues. For many years no link has been substantiated and, thankfully, the medical research will continue for many years to come. This new analysis is based on a more recent approach and, although the risks are small, the expert group decided to upgrade mobile phone use to being a possible carcinogen.

In my previous employment on several occasions I encountered people who worried about their health owing to electromagnetic fields in close proximity to pylons and transformers. There is an analogy between mobile phone masts and overhead cables. I have been with engineers using equipment to measure electromagnetic forces at various locations such as a farmyard and a farmhouse and in two ordinary dwellings at different locations. Anyone who knows anything about magnetic fields will know they are measured in farads and, in the case of both electricity and mobile phones, the unit is the microfarad. I was amazed at the readings taken by the engineers at the base of overhead transformers, inside the milking parlour in a farmyard, the kitchen of a farmhouse, beside a microwave oven and close to a bedside clock. Having seen the reports, I ask Members to guess where the greatest magnetic reading was taken, whether it was in the farmyard, at the transformer, close to the bedside clock or otherwise. I guarantee they will not be able to guess correctly because, despite all the transformers, pylons and cables, it is the bedside clock which is beside most of us every night which emits more by way of magnetic forces than many of the other things we might suggest.

On the question of risk to children and teenagers, it has been pointed out that health authorities have always erred on the side of caution when it comes to mobile phone use. At this stage, who knows what the long-term affects will be, which is why I have a concern. I use the analogy of the septic tanks used 45 years ago which were the be all and end all then, but what are they today? The Department of Health in the United Kingdom issued fresh recommendations only this year that children aged 16 years and under should text only and speak over their mobile phones only when absolutely necessary. Thankfully, the Department of Health here gives the same advice. Children should be discouraged from spending too much time on their mobile phones.

Am I better off with a hands-free set rather than keeping the mobile phone one inch from my ear? I am, if I want to reduce the amount of energy being delivered to the brain, as pointed out by Senator Pat O'Neill. In addition, many accidents have occurred as a result of the use of mobile phones, which is an issue we should consider - I must admit I may be guilty on occasion in this regard. In seconding the motion I am not sure the information we have requested from the mobile phone operators will be forthcoming.