Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2006
327 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the status of his Department’s recommendations of June 2005 regarding non idonian radiation; and if any of the recommendations have been implemented, particularly in regard to citizens suffering from reaction to this radiation due to the proximity of their homes to mobile phone masts. [42485/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra337 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Houses of the Oireachtas Report published in June 2005 acknowledges that Irish citizens are suffering ill health due to the fact that they reside near a phone mast or due to the use of a mobile phone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42756/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 337 together.
I am guided in these matters by the advice from international expert bodies, such as the World Health Organisation and the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection. These bodies continually examine the totality of the scientific and medical evidence available to provide the most up to date and accurate information in regard to the potential health effects, if any, of electromagnetic fields. The advice to date is that there is no causal connection with any health effects.
The Government approved the establishment of an inter-Departmental committee on the health effects of electromagnetic fields in September 2005. The committee is chaired by my Department and will provide advice to the Government on the appropriate action to be taken on foot of recommendations contained in the report "Non-Ionising Radiation from mobile phones handsets and masts", published in June 2005 by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
This committee has overseen the establishment of an expert group on the health effects of electromagnetic fields, which has undertaken a thorough review of the latest scientific reports and will report to the inter-departmental committee on the current scientific consensus and science-based policy. The inter-Departmental committee expects to report to Government in the near future.
