Vol. 396 No. 3
28 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Communications if he will make a statement on the testing of microwave radiation in this country, such as the low level microwave radiation that will result from various transmitters which are to be erected around Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these microwaves are at present being tested on mice in the United States; and whether he considers such microwaves as harmless to the public.
I am aware that various tests on possible adverse effects of exposure to radio frequency radiation have been and are being carried out in a number of different countries. Indeed, much of this work was considered by the International Radiation Protection Association when drawing up the guidelines for exposure to radio frequency radiation to which MMDS operators must adhere.
A recent independent examination of the proposals to establish an MMDS transmitter of the highest power permitted by my Department has indicated that even when making the most pessimistic assumptions, the maximum exposure by the general public will be 230 times lower than the limits considered safe by the IRPA.
While I cannot be sure which specific experiments the Deputy has in mind. I understand from the expert opinion available to me that experiments with animals and with biological cells that show adverse effects and which have been reliably replicated require specific energy absorption rates about 6,700 times greater than the average value of the most exposed members of the public to the radio frequency radiation from the transmitter in question.
For the sake of completeness I refer the Deputy to my replies to previous questions on this topic, in particular at columns 992-993 of Volume 381 of the Official Report of 1 June 1988 and columns 1034-1035 of Volume 393, of the Official Report on 21 November 1989.
Let us now come to deal with questions addressed to the Minister for Justice, Question No. 30 in the name of Deputy Gregory.
