Research into the health effects of exposure to mobile-phone masts commissioned by Eircell is not extensive enough, according to a doctor examining the risks.
Dr Dawn Payne, a general practitioner working on behalf of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, says the ICA reiterated its stand that no further masts should be erected for the digital phone network until the technology used is proved to be no hazard to health.
A group of medical and scientific experts, paid by the Eircell mobile phone company, reported that mobile phone masts were no more dangerous than a standard microwave oven or radio alarm clock found in any home in terms of the radiation they emit.
There was "no detrimental health effect from exposure to mobile phone masts" for people living near them, despite widespread opposition to their presence throughout the State, according to the report.
But Dr Payne said no conclusive data would be available about the health risks of mobile phones for some years.
"I feel that four experts were not enough to reflect the broad base of medical scientific diversity of opinion available. The WHO's international study of magnetic and electrical fields started in 1996 and is expected to last five years. Ireland is one of 23 countries participating, so why not shelve the erection of masts until these results are published?" she said.
According to Eircell the independent group was commissioned to assess relevant international research. While there were conflicting results from experiments evaluating the effects of radiofrequency (RF) exposure on humans and animals, it finds "there is still no unequivocal evidence" to say it causes ill-health and, in particular, cancer. This includes specific assessment of possible risk to children.
The authors of the report are: Dr Maurice Hurley, consultant radiation oncologist at Cork University Hospital; Dr Michael Maher, director of radiation therapy at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin; Dr Anthony Staines, of UCD's Department of Public Health; and Prof Philip Walton, of UCG's Department of Experimental Physics.
The expert panel confirms that Eircell masts, known as base stations, use a 950 MHz signal; a power level 1,300 times lower than guidelines laid down by the World Health Organisation and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection.
Put simply, they say base stations operate at a similar level to everyday household items such as microwave ovens, even at maximum capacity. Typical television and FM radio transmitters are "very much more powerful than a mobile base station".
The authors say there are no complete studies of possible effects of mobile phone use available. Studies linking microwave radiation, or any other form of electro-magnetic radiation, with cancers are in their opinion flawed or need to be replicated.
The Eircell chief executive, Mr Stephen Brewer, said he had always believed that people living near masts had nothing to worry about. He was delighted that such an eminent group had confirmed this to be the case.
On an Australian study linking mobile phone usage to cancer, the group says the mice used were genetically programmed to develop lymphomas - cancer of lymphoid tissue - and the power density exposure involved was at least 130 times more intense than that encountered from a mast.
In 1996 20,000 members of the ICA passed a motion unanimously asking that no more masts be erected until the technology in use was proved to be no hazard to health.