Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his Department's role in monitoring health and safety issues relating to mobile phones; the areas in which final responsibility for this matter should be located in view of the overlapping roles of his Department and at least two others in mobile phone safety; his views on arrangements within the British Government to monitor this vital matter of ongoing public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on health issues relating to non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony. The Department's involvement in matters concerning the health effects of non-ionising radiation, which includes radio frequency emissions from mobile phone base stations, is guided by advice from national and international health authorities which include the World Health Organisation of the United Nations.

Mobile telephones are in use internationally. The limits for non-ionising radiation are global limits established internationally by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, ICNIRP. My Department will continue to liaise with the appropriate international bodies to ensure that the standards operating in Ireland comply with the ICNIRP guidelines.

Responsibility for monitoring health and safety issues relating to mobile phones is currently vested in my Department but a number of other Government Departments and public agencies have an interest in the matter. The Deputy will be aware that the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources recently discussed this issue. The committee is considering a draft report in the matter of non-ionising radiation from mobile telephone handsets and masts and the issue of institutional responsibility in this matter can be reviewed further by Government in the future.

I am informed that, in the UK, the National Radiological Protection Board performs an advisory role on the potential adverse health effects of non-ionising radiation for British Government ministries, in particular the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Health and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in relation to planning matters. The board is due to move into the Health Protection Agency from 1 April when it will become the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards.

My Department to date has not received any communication from ComReg which would indicate any breach of health or safety standards arising from this survey of mobile telephones.