Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received correspondence from various groups concerned regarding possible health problems arising from pylons, masts or other fixtures; if he has evaluated the information he has received, and the international scientific and medical evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11621/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I have received correspondence from a number of groups and individuals in relation to potential health effects of electromagnetic fields associated with pylons, masts and other fixtures.

I set up an Inter-departmental Committee on the Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, in September 2005, to consider the recommendations contained in the report, "Non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts", published in June 2005 by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

In accordance with the Government decision, the Inter-departmental Committee set up an Expert Group on electromagnetic fields to:

Provide a detailed overview of the state of the latest international research.

Provide answers to questions commonly raised by the public in relation to the health effects of electromagnetic fields.

Suggest ways in which the Irish Government may deal with the research findings; including whether or not it should engage in research of its own or whether new policy should be developed.

The expert group was chaired by Dr. Michael Repacholi, Coordinator for Radiation and Environmental Health Unit in the World Health Organisation (Recently Retired).

The Expert Group invited submissions in order to garner the views of the public. This process was initiated on the 2nd December 2005 with an advertisement in the national papers and with letters sent to local authorities, Government Departments and agencies, political parties, interested groups and individuals.

Written submissions were received from individuals, local authorities, the industry and concerned citizens groups. The Expert Group met with representatives of some of these in February of 2006, where further clarification was sought by the Expert Group regarding the issues faced from an Irish perspective.

The Expert Group have concluded that:

"So far no adverse short or long-term health effects have been found from exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) signals produced by mobile phones and base station transmitters. RF signals have not been found to cause cancer. However research is underway to investigate whether there are likely to be any subtle, non-cancer effects on children and adolescents. The results of this research will need to be considered in due course."

"There is limited scientific evidence of an association between Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. This does not mean that ELF magnetic fields cause cancer, but the possibility cannot be excluded. However considerable research carried out in laboratories has not supported this possibility, and overall the evidence is considered weak, suggesting it is unlikely that ELF magnetic fields cause leukaemia in children."

The Government published the Report of the Expert Group last week and copies will be made available to all Deputies as soon as the printed version is available. The Report is also available on my Department website www.dcmnr.gov.ie.