Vol. 449 No. 4
199 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the public concern regarding the health and safety aspects of the MMDS system; if submissions have been received; the research carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3712/95]
I am aware that there is some public concern regarding the health and safety aspects of MMDS and my Department has received some submissions on the matter.
However, the question of the safety of MMDS has been researched in detail and the findings of expert studies from around the world show that it is a safe system. In particular, the International Radiation Protection Association, the expert body in this field, has developed guidelines in conjunction with the Environmental Health Organisation of the World Health Organisation relating to exposure limits to radio signals of all descriptions. The limits which have been established by the IRPA are limits within which it is safe to work and live on the basis of all expert knowledge.
It is a requirement of the specification of licences for MMDS that the system works within the IRPA guidelines. Studies carried out in this country have shown that exposure levels from MMDS transmitters were many thousands of times lower than IRPA limits.
