Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances regarding fears among the public about the health risks to humans on account of high power electricity lines and pylons and particularly 400 kV lines being constructed nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51699/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This Report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields and which is available for download on my Department’s website (, examined a wide range of issues in relation to the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields, including those produced from electricity pylons. The Expert Group reported that the majority scientific opinion was that no adverse short- or long-term effects have been demonstrated from exposure to electromagnetic fields at levels below the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

With regard to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) fields of non-ionising radiation emitted by electricity power lines, the Report concluded that there is limited scientific evidence of adverse health effects. The Expert Group recommended that precautionary measures be used, where appropriate, and that Ireland continue to adopt and enforce the international guidelines developed by the ICNIRP and endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union , which we continue to do .

A substantial volume of research on this issue is being carried out internationally by regulatory bodies with responsibilities for monitoring the health effects of electromagnetic fields. The findings of this research are being monitored by the WHO’s EMF Project; it is expected that a report will issue in 2014.

My Department will continue to monitor this and other scientific evidence as it is made available, and will consider any policy implications in this context.