Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 2

Written Answers. - Non-ionising Radiation.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

148 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the person in his Department who is most qualified to advise on the health implications of non-ionising radiation; and this person's qualification in the field. [5024/95]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

150 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that scientific evidence has shown definite links between increases in cancer and electromagnetic non-ionising radiation. [5026/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together. The health implications of non-ionising radiation are primarily a matter for the Department of Health. However, my Department keeps abreast of developments in relation to the scientific research on electromagnetic fields and on the positions being taken by other Governments and international health advisory bodies. Comprehensive assessments of the issue have been carried out by the chief technical adviser in my Department and were published in 1988 and 1992. The reports are available from the Government Publications Sales Office.

These reports found that on the evidence available there is, as yet, no widespread agreement among research workers that electromagnetic fields constitute a potential hazard to health. Despite the fact that many scientific studies have been produced throughout the world in recent years, it has not been established that power-frequency electric and magnetic fields encountered in normal living and working conditions cause adverse health effects in humans. The results of these studies have been carefully analysed by independent international medical and review bodies, such as the World Health Organisation, WHO, the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, ICNIRP, and the UK National Radiological Protection Board, NRPB.

However, in relation to high voltage power lines, I have been assured by the ESB that it is committed to designing and operating its networks in accordance with the most up to date recommendations and guidelines of the various expert and independent international bodies in this area.