Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005
132 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received any communications from ComReg which would indicate any breach in health or safety standards arising from the use of hand-held mobile telephones or communications masts, with particular reference to non-ionising radiation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3637/05]
View answer296 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received any communications from ComReg which would indicate any breach in health or safety standards arising from the use of hand-held mobile telephones or communications masts, with particular reference to non-ionising radiation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3960/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 296 together.
In June 2003, my Department instigated an extensive communications site survey programme to measure non-ionising radiation from telecommunications mast sites, which was carried out by the Commission for Communication Regulation, ComReg, during 2003 and 2004. The total number of sites surveyed was 401. Not one of these sites was found to be in breach of international guidelines. Details of the results of this survey are available at the ComReg website, www.comreg.ie.
My Department to date has not received any communication from ComReg which would indicate any breach of health or safety standards arising from this survey or from mobile telephones.
133 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with ComReg arising from the recently published Stewart report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3638/05]
View answer149 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has studied the contents of the Stewart report in regard to mobile telephone safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/05]
View answer297 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with ComReg arising from the recently published Stewart report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3961/05]
View answer299 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has studied the contents of the Stewart report in regard to mobile telephone safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3963/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 149, 297 and 299 together.
The independent expert group on mobile phones, IEGMP, chaired by Sir William Stewart, was set up in 1999. It issued its report, Mobile Phones and Health, in May 2000. This report is commonly referred to as the Stewart report. There have been numerous reports since then. The remit of IEGMP was to consider present concerns about the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters; to conduct a rigorous assessment of existing research; to give advice based on the present state of knowledge; to make recommendations on further work that should be carried out to improve the basis for sound advice.
The Stewart report provides information on the interaction of radiofrequency fields with tissues. It examines epidemiological — human health — studies, research on cells in culture, experimental animals as well as on volunteers, and concerns about the use of mobile phones and driving. It also describes the operation of mobile phones and reviews recommendations on exposure standards for RF radiation.
The main conclusions on health effects in the Stewart report can be summarised as follows: exposure to RF radiation below guidelines does not cause adverse health effects to the general population; there is some scientific evidence which suggests that there may be biological effects occurring at exposures below these guidelines; biological effects do not necessarily result in health effects; gaps in knowledge justify a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phone technologies until much more detailed and scientifically robust information on any health effects becomes available; there are possible indirect effects on well being in some cases; drivers should be dissuaded from using either hand-held or hands-free phones whilst on the move.
My Department has had discussions in general with ComReg about compliance with the global limits for non-ionising radiation established by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, known as the ICNIRP guidelines, and not in regard to specific individual reports.
