Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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497. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the name of the person that has been appointed to his Department's Electromagnetic Field Commission; the name of the independent overseer; the planned publication date for the report; the process of public participation planned for the Commission; and if the independent overseer is satisfied that there are no potential conflicts of interest in the appointments to the Commission. [6782/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department has commissioned a study to review and report on international developments on the potential health effects of electro-magnetic fields emanating from transmission grid infrastructures. The study is examining international developments in non-ionising radiation (NIR) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) research, since publication in 2007 of a report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. The study will also examine how the issue of NIR/EMF is dealt with in other jurisdictions.

Representatives from a number of Departments, together with national and international experts, are currently overseeing the study which is being undertaken by RIVM, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, and is expected to be completed before Easter. Any proposals or recommendations arising from the study will be submitted to me in due courseand I intend to bring these to Government for consideration.

Following Government consideration and subsequent publication of the study, I anticipate that a Steering Committee, convened and chaired by my Department, will be established to make specific proposals relating to the future management of these matters, including, inter alia,any consequent legislative amendments and provision of appropriate technical expertise and associated resources. At that stage, interested parties will be provided with an opportunity to make submissions for consideration to the Steering Committee to help inform future policy making in this area.

Matters relating to the composition, terms of reference, and mandate of the Steering Committee are yet to be finalised.