Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 4

Written Answers. - Telecom Éireann Base Station.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

87 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 191 on 21 November 1995, if he will give details of the contractors commissioned by Telecom Éireann, outlining their names and experience in this highly specialised field; if their detailed reports submitted to Telecom Éireann can be made available; if his Department will request Telecom Éireann to commission a monitoring test on the base station referred to in the question in view of its location in a highly populated area; if he is concerned at the reports that emissions in the gigahertz frequency range can cause brain tumours; and the evidence, if any, there is to suggest that magnetic radiation as low as 0.5 milligrams at power levels of 1.0 watts can contribute to carcinoma. [18364/95]

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

The independent monitoring tests to which I referred when I answered the Deputy's question on 21 November last were carried out by Forbairt, the national standards body who do this sort of testing on a commercial basis. Forbairt's reports to Telecom Éireann are confidential and are made available only to the appropriate parties-agencies.

As I said in my reply on 21 November, Telecom Éireann is satisfied that these base stations are designed and operated in compliance with IRPA guidelines. I have no function relating to the health aspects of radio transmissions other than to see that facilities are operated in conformity with best international practice. I have no evidence before me that the IRPA guidelines are in any way deficient in that respect or that the facilities in question are operating outside them.

While I am happy to give this kind of information to the Deputy, it does seem to me that a decision to have tests done in any particular case is a matter for the day-to-day administration of its affairs by Telecom Éireann and I have no function in such a matter. Perhaps the local residents association in the case mentioned by him should approach the company directly.