Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

It is up to the people. The atmosphere in the Chamber is more encouraging in terms of debating issues than it can be in the Dáil. This is the Seanad's strength. I have listened to all of the contributions and will comment on them at the conclusion. I thank everyone who has spoken.

I will outline to the House the relevant elements of research and policy in this area. It is important that, in what is an essentially highly technical matter, account should be taken of the best available international research on the issues involved. The potential health effects of electromagnetic fields were the subject of an expert group report published by the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in March 2007. The report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, is available for download from my Department's website.

The independent expert group examined a wide range of issues in respect of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields. Its findings addressed many of the health risk questions raised by members of the public. The views expressed and conclusions drawn were informed by the principal scientific literature available worldwide on the matter at the time, including that of the World Health Organization, WHO.

The expert group concluded that there was limited scientific evidence of adverse health effects from electromagnetic fields. Regarding the issue of mobile telephones and base stations, the group concluded: "From all the evidence accumulated so far, no adverse short or long term health effects have been shown to occur from exposure to the signals produced by mobile phones and base station transmitters".

The group recommended that Ireland should continue to adopt and enforce the guidelines developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, ICNIRP, an independent scientific organisation established in 1992 for the purpose of advancing non-ionising radiation, NIR, protection and to provide guidance and recommendations on protection from NIR exposure. The commission operates in co-operation with the environmental health division of the WHO and the United Nations Environment Programme and is endorsed by the WHO and the European Commission.

The expert group also examined the issue of emerging mobile wireless communications and stated that the technology in this area is not untested. Specifically, the group commented:

No untested wireless technology can be placed on sale within the European Union. All such equipment must meet a battery of standards for electrical safety, electrical compatibility, electrical interference, performance and fitness for use. The CE mark is applied to all tested electrical goods marketed within the EU. Mobile telephones and other wireless hardware meet the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EEC, the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC, the CE (Mark) Directive 93/68/EEC and the R & TTE (Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) Directive 1999/5/EC. In addition, mobile telephones are designed and manufactured not to exceed the limits for exposure to radio frequency, RF, fields recommended by international guidelines. These guidelines were developed by the ICNIRP and the exposure limits in the guidelines include a substantial safety margin designed to ensure the safety of all persons, regardless of age and health status.

One of the recommendations of the expert group was that precautionary measures be used where appropriate. This idea has been reflected in Senators' contributions to this debate. The recommendations of the expert group were approved by the Government and responsibility for this policy area was transferred to the then Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2007.

On 31 May 2011, the WHO, through its International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, issued a statement classifying RF electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Group 2B is used by the IARC to describe agents for which there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. Coffee and gasoline would be two widely used agents that also have a Group 2B classification.

It is important to note that the new research has not established a direct link between mobile telephone use and cancer. In terms of ensuring a balanced discussion on this issue, we should not lose sight of this fact. Equally, we must recognise the conclusion that there could be some risk. The key message for us, therefore, is that an appropriately precautionary approach should be followed and we should continue to monitor ongoing studies at international level that seek to determine what link, if any, exists between mobile telephone usage and cancer risk.

The Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health subsequently issued a statement, which reads:

We may not truly understand the health affects of mobile phones for many years. However, research does show that using mobile phones affects brain activity. There is general consensus that children are more vulnerable to radiation from mobile phones than adults. Therefore, the sensible thing to do is to adopt a precautionary approach rather than wait to have the risks confirmed.

In light of the research findings, the CMO's statement strongly advised that "children and young people who do use mobile phones, should be encouraged to use them for 'essential purposes only'". All calls should be kept short, as talking for long periods prolongs exposure to RF electromagnetic fields. All mobile telephone users can reduce their exposure by making fewer calls, reducing the length of calls, sending text messages instead of calling, using mobile telephones only when land line telephones are unavailable, using a wired hands-free device so that the telephone need not be held against the head and refraining from keeping an active telephone clipped to the belt or in the pocket. This advice follows the precautionary approach accepted by Government following publication of the expert group's report in 2007.

It is also important to note that emissions from mobile base stations and handsets are regulated through the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, under the terms and conditions of licences issued to mobile service providers. These require service providers to ensure that electromagnetic radiation emissions are within the limits set by the ICNIRP in its published guidelines on limiting human exposure to electromagnetic fields. Information on handset emissions is also made available to the public in the technical manuals provided to consumers when purchasing a mobile telephone.

During the past number of years, ComReg has conducted measurement surveys to verify licensee compliance with the ICNIRP limits. The detailed measurement results from 600 sites have been published on ComReg's website. The most recent report, entitled 2010 Programme of Measurement of Non Ionising Radiation Emissions Fourth Interim Report, presents the results of the fourth set of site surveys - there were 20 sites in all - undertaken during 2010. The measurements during these surveys were taken at the point of highest emissions in a public area associated with the transmitter. On the basis of this work, ComReg has concluded that the NIR emissions measured from all of the 20 sites were below the relevant ICNIRP guideline limits for general public exposure.

The Government has been involved in international initiatives concerning possible health effects from electromagnetic fields for many years. It was a founder member of the WHO electromagnetic field project and one of its first financial supporters. In Ireland, the Government intends that a single agency should have responsibility for the health effects of both ionising and non-ionising radiation. It is intended that this will be achieved by extending the statutory powers of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, to include responsibility for NIR, subject to the necessary resources being made available. Until the transfer of functions to the RPII takes place, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will continue to hold responsibility for these matters.

In overall terms, I should emphasise to the House that NIR is an evolving area of research. While there are no plans at present to introduce further legislation in this area, the Government will continue to monitor all relevant and internationally recognised scientific research and evidence as it emerges to ensure that the policy framework is updated as appropriate. Having listened to the contributions today, in particular that of Senator Crown, who is an acknowledged expert on cancer, I will bring those views to the attention of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, and his Department. I will ask them to communicate directly with the Senator in this regard. It seems reasonable and right that we should follow the recommendation he made to me and I will try to progress the situation as much as I possibly can.