Martin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 255: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there is medical evidence that mobile telephone masts are injurious to health. [30168/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no scientific medical evidence that mobile telephone masts are injurious to health.

In recent years, more than 25,000 peer-reviewed studies into possible health effects of non-ionising radiation and the class of electromagnetic emissions associated with mobile phone technology have been published. No definite causal link has been proven between the emissions and any adverse health effect.

Notwithstanding the overwhelmingly clean bill of health given to these technologies compared to other environmental risks which our society willingly accepts, many countries, including Ireland, have adopted a precautionary approach. Absence of proof of harm is not proof of absence of harm. By consensus among many countries, guidelines are established for safe levels of exposure to various kinds of electromagnetic emissions. These guidelines are set at levels which are many times less than the experimental levels at which no adverse effects have been established. Ireland has adopted the guidelines established by the international commission on non-ionising radiation protection, and participates in the work of the international committee on electromagnetic safety, which sets standards in this area.

All licensed telecommunications operators in Ireland are required by the terms of their licences to observe the international commission on non-ionising radiation protection guidelines for limiting exposure of the public to electromagnetic emissions from their facilities. ComReg conducts audit measurements to verify compliance with these limits. Ireland maintains relevant activity to ensure that public authorities have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information in this area, and steps have been taken to ensure that these masts operate within limits which respected international bodies have deemed to provide protection for the public.