Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 3

Written Answers - Mobile Telephones Safety.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

209 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to recent reports on US television showing increasing evidence from medical sources suggesting serious causal links between radiation from mobile telephone handsets and brain tumours in persons with a history of high level usage of these phones; the progress, if any, made in drawing up EU guidelines and standards; and if he will ensure that this new evidence from the USA is fully considered in that context. [25858/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Details of the particular reports referred to by the Deputy are not given.

All significant research in this area is monitored by the Department of Public Enterprise with whom my Department liaises regarding the human health aspects. The balance of scientific evidence to date does not indicate any significant health risk from mobile phones but research in this area is ongoing.

The European Union under its fifth framework research programme has allocated 160 million euros for international research projects in this area. The results of this research will become available over the next three to four years.

I am advised that mobile phones in use here meet with the standards for exposure levels recommended by the EU for public exposure to non-ionising radiation emissions. Mobile phone users can further reduce personal exposure from handsets by use of a headset.