Health concerns surrounding EirGrid
project must be taken seriously by government – Ní Riada
Sinn Féin’s EU candidate for the
constituency of Ireland South, Liadh Ní Riada, has today called on the
government to take the health concerns surrounding the EirGrid Grid Link project
seriously.
Ní Riada stated that the Government’s
messaging regarding such health concerns has been mixed, flippant and shows a
real disrespect towards the affected communities.
Ms Ní Riada said:
“The health concerns surrounding the
EirGrid project are very credible. However, the government has chosen to adopt
quite a flippant attitude to these concerns.
“Minister Rabbitte has consistently
dismissed the worries of communities while his colleague Health Minister James
Reilly has aired his concerns regarding the electromagnetic fields created by
power lines. The fact that two senior Ministers have completely antagonistic
positions on such an important matter is, to my mind, evidence that the
government has not taken these health concerns seriously at all.
“A 2005 study conducted by Oxford
Professor Draper found that living within 200 metres of high-voltage
power-lines increases a child’s chance of getting cancer by 69%. Earlier
research shows cancer clusters associated with high voltage power-lines. People
living in close proximity were found to have a higher chance of suffering from
lung cancer and leukaemia.”
“This isn’t political spin. These are
the results of serious academic research. Surely the government has a
responsibility to treat such studies with a greater degree of respect and
consideration.
“By arrogantly dismissing these
concerns, the Government and EirGrid are playing fast and loose with the health
of many people.
“I certainly hope that Minister
Rabbitte’s dismissal is not just another case of something one does only when
there is an election in view.
“The health concerns regarding the
Grid Link project cannot be marginalised. I am calling on the
government to respect affected communities and treat these concerns with
the seriousness that they deserve.”
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
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