Vol. 501 No. 2
160 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to introduce legislation to restrict the sale and use of mobile telephones to children under the age of 16 in view of the findings of the effects from low intensity exposures of the Vienna EMF resolution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5536/99]
I am not aware of any proposals to introduce restrictions on the sale or use of mobile telephones of the type mentioned by the Deputy. In any case, as I have no function in relation to health matters, I would have no role in the introduction of such restrictions. As I have stated before, I am aware of the Vienna EMF resolution which claims that the biological effects from low intensity exposures to non-ionising radiation are scientifically established. I am also aware that this claim of the resolution has proved to be controversial among the scientific community, as the bulk of research on the issue of non-ionising radiation has not shown any such link. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport issued a report on non-ionising microwave radiation emissions from communications masts in December, 1998. The joint committee concluded that:
The evidence available at present does not indicate an unacceptable health hazard from microwave emissions within the IRPA (International Radiation Protection Association) guidelines.
The IRPA guidelines are applied in Ireland through the licences held by mobile telephony and MMDS operators. It is a matter for the Director of Telecommunications Regulation to ensure compliance with these requirements.
