Vol. 501 No. 2
305 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if her Department has employers' liability insurance to cover irradiation of staff issued with mobile phones in view of the findings of the effects from low intensity exposures in the Vienna EMF resolution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5642/99]
306 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if her Department has public liability insurance which covers irradiation of staff and the general public from any mobile phone transmitters located on State property in view of the fact that, if the operating company ceases to exist, the liability may default to the landowner and in further view of the findings of the effects from low intensity exposures of the Vienna EMF resolution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5658/99]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 305 agus 306 le chéile.
My Department, in accordance with public financial procedures, does not have employers or public liability insurance. The basis for this position is set out in the public financial procedures as follows:
The general rule is that no insurance should be effected against the risk of any loss which, if it arose, would fall wholly and directly on public funds. This is based on the understanding that the risks for which the Government is liable are innumerable and widely distributed and that losses maturing in any one year are never so large as materially to disturb the financial position of the year so that it is cheaper in the long-term for the Exchequer to carry its own insurance.
