Vol. 508 No. 4
108 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the permitted microwave emissions from mobile phones and mobile phone masts; the way in which these compare with the standards in the strictest European countries; and if she will make a statement on a recent move by MPs in the United Kingdom to reduce the permitted emissions levels there to one fifth of their current standard in order to comply with those standards. [18810/99]
On the basis of studies carried out in Switzerland and elsewhere, I am informed that mobile telephones in use in Ireland meet the exposure standards recommended by major health advisory bodies worldwide, including the International Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection – ICNIRP – which is adviser to the World Health Organisation on these matters.
In regard to mobile phone masts, compliance with the 1988 International Radiation Protection Association – IRPA – guidelines is a condition attached to all communications licences for mobile telephony services issued in Ireland. In this regard, the Deputy should note that in 1996 a major review of the health issues raised by non-ionising radiation emissions was carried out by the ICNIRP and its subsequent report confirmed the appropriateness of the IRPA guidelines.
The most recent European recommendation for limiting public exposure to electromagnetic fields in the frequency range 0 Hz to 300 Hz was that approved by the Council of Health Ministers at its meeting on 12 July 1999. This recommendation, which was supported by all member states except Italy, proposes limits for public exposure at 900 MHz – mobile phone frequencies – of 4.5 watts per square metre. Exposure of the public in Ireland to emissions from phone masts and mobile phones are well within this recommended limit. In the case of phone masts, public exposures are typically less than one thousandth of this recommended permissible limit.
