Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 198: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two new phone transmitter panels have recently been placed at a site (details supplied) in Dublin 15 in view of the fact that a 200 metre exclusion zone was voted in by local councillors; if his attention has been further drawn to the scientific research on mobile phone base stations which indicates that such stations are a cause for concern; if his attention has been drawn to the work and findings of EM Radiation Research Trust, based in Geneva who recently met with nine representatives of voluntary groups in Ireland and the United Kingdom; when the report on non-ionising radiation from the Joint Committee will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7858/07]

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

Planning is a matter for the relevant local authority in the first instance, under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche.

My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on the most up-to-date research in relation to potential health effects of electromagnetic fields, including those emitted by mobile telephones and the associated base stations. Government policy in this area is guided by the advice from international expert bodies, such as the World Health Organisation and the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These bodies continually examine the totality of the scientific and medical evidence available so we have the most up-to-date and accurate information in regard to the potential health effects, if any, of electromagnetic fields.

The international consensus of scientific research to date is that there is no consistent evidence for adverse health effects below international guidelines, at the level of exposure from mobile phones and base stations. These guidelines have been developed by ICNIRP and are endorsed by the European Union under Council Recommendation EC/519/1999. Indeed, the World Health Organisation states that: "Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects". The Inter-departmental Committee on the Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields have received the report of the Expert Group and formulated proposals to Government. I will shortly bring these proposals to my Cabinet colleagues.