Written Answers. - Mobile Phone Hazards.
David Stanton
Ceist:
186
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if her attention has been drawn to any research work or reports which allege that consumers are at risk from prolonged use of mobile phones due to radiation exposure; the plans, if any, she has to alert consumers to these dangers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21985/98]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
193
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if her attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) that patent applications lodged in the United Kingdom in respect of innovations in mobile telephony are so worded in order to suggest that mobile telephone manufacturers (details supplied) are concerned about the health risks attached to mobile telephony; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21832/98]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
194
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if her attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) of research published in the United Kingdom confirming damage done to the immune system caused by the use of mobile telephones; if she is disposed to order a comprehensive inquiry into the health effects non-ionising radiation arising from mobile telephony can have in view of this research; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21833/98]
John Gormley
Ceist:
195
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if her attention has been drawn to newspaper reports (details supplied) that Britain's biggest personal injury law firm is pursuing the first claims against mobile telephone manufacturers for personal injuries alleged to have been caused by exposure to non-ionising radiation from mobile telephony; and if she will give her view on the likely effect of this development of the mobile telephony market in Ireland.
[21834/98]
John Gormley
Ceist:
196
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if her attention has been drawn to a newspaper report (details supplied) that mobile telephone manufacturers have acknowledged the health risks arising from exposure to non-ionising radiation emanating from the mobile telephony; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21835/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 186, 193, 194, 195 and 196 together.
Public concern over the possible risks to health to the users of mobile phones began in the United States in April, 1992 when a Florida man sued a mobile phone manufacturer for allegedly causing his wife to have a brain tumour. This was the first such case involving mobile phones. However, when it came to trial in May 1995 the case was dismissed.
The publicity generated by this case drew world wide attention to the possible risks to mobile phone users. In consequence manufacturers of mobile phones accelerated their research on improving the design of mobile phones to enable them to function effectively while using less power. The results of this research are now incorporated into the latest GSM phones in use in Ireland.
Concerning the specific points raised in these questions and in the newspaper article which prompted them I would make the following comments.
The patents refer to research initiated in the wake of the Florida mobile phone lawsuit. There have been other similar lawsuits in the United States since that first case. None so far have found in favour of the plaintiff.
The views of Mr. Roger Coghill are not supported by the expert group set up by the European Commission which in November 1996 stated:
There is no evidence of any health risk emerging from mobile phones, but the results of present research are inadequate to draw firm conclusions on this issue. Further research is therefore required.
. or by the UK National Radiological Protection Board which, in February 1998 stated:
The conclusion of the NRPB advisory group on non-ionizing radiation was that there is no firm evidence that electromagnetic fields cause cancer but that there is a need for further good quality research to be carried out.
The World Health Organisation, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer are co-ordinating major research programmes in this area. My officials will be closely monitoring the results of this research.
Mobile telephones in use in Ireland meet the exposure standards recommended by major health advisory bodies world-wide, including the International Committee on Non-ionising Radiation Protection, who are advisers to the World Health Organisation on these matters, the American National Council for Radiation Protection and Measurements, and the United States National Council for Radiation Protection and Measurements.
Compliance with the 1988 International Radiation Protection Association guidelines is a condition attached to all communications licences for mobile telephony services issued in Ireland. The Director of Telecommunications Regulation, who was appointed pursuant to the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996, is responsible for ensuring compliance with licence conditions in relation to emissions from masts and has now put in place a system for this. The Director has recently published a report of her findings in this regard.
