James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Health and Safety Authority will carry out a safety audit on the installation of a telephone mast on top of a water tower at Whitegate, County Clare, in order that the residents of the area can be assured that there is no health risk involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6616/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My responsibility regarding safety issues at mobile phone masts relates solely to emissions of non-ionising radiation from these sites. There is no scientific or medical evidence that emissions below the level of internationally recognised guidelines from mobile telephone masts are injurious to health.

Over recent years, more than 25,000 peer reviewed studies into possible health effects of non-ionising radiation, 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. 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, ICNIRP, 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 ICNIRP guidelines for limiting exposure of the public to electromagnetic emissions from their facilities.

The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, has in the past audited emissions of non-ionising radiation from communications sites including masts. I will ask my officials to liaise with ComReg to arrange an audit of the site in question over the next month or so.