James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Unfortunately, one cannot prohibit the use of sunbeds in private homes. It is only in areas in which there is supervision and that means professional premises. In addition, it affects those who hire sunbeds, as I am making it illegal to hire out a sunbed to anyone under the age of 18. That is as far as I can go and that is the reason it is important to promulgate the message that hundreds of people die annually from malignant melanoma and that one's greatest risk is if one was exposed to ultraviolet light under the age of 12, which specifically relates to those of holy communion age. In other words, if one engages in this practice, one is doing a desperate disservice to one's child's by exposing him or her to a shocking risk later in life. As matters stand, one cannot do this at home but as I stated, it can be done in supervised areas.

The Bill will bring within its scope sunbed use in commercial premises, as well as the sale and hire of sunbeds. It will not be possible to regulate the use of sunbeds in private dwellings that have been purchased by a person over the age of 18. The Constitution protects the dwelling of a citizen in this regard. Similarly, with other harmful substances such as tobacco, it is not possible to enter a private dwelling unless a warrant from a court is obtained. Responsibility with regard to activities in private dwellings rests with parents and it will be important to make parents aware of their responsibilities in such situations. In this regard, it will be a requirement that information will be given to anyone who proposes to hire or to purchase a sunbed that will advise him or her of the health risk of using sunbeds and that those under 18 should not use them. In February 2014, I called on parents to act responsibly when it comes to permitting or encouraging their children to use sunbeds. I stated that while parents may think they are doing something positive by allowing their children to use a sunbed, as I have just pointed out, they are risking their children's health. Parents must act responsibly to protect their children and there is no justifiable reason to allow the use of sunbeds by children under the age of 18 years of age in any setting. However, I am constrained by the Constitution when it comes to private dwellings, just as one cannot prevent people from smoking at home where there are children.