James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I will be brief. I thank the committee for its help and contributions. I concur with the other members that our whole purpose here is to improve legislation. No one has a monopoly on wisdom and it is important to remember that 850 new cases of melanoma occur in Ireland each year. Our message to parents is they should not do anything that makes their child likely to be one of those cases in later life. Each year, 150 Irish people die from melanoma and at present, 7,000 people in Ireland are living with this type of cancer. Moreover, while the cost of treating it has ranged from €6,000 to €10,000 per patient, with newer treatments the cost now is more like €50,000 to €100,000 per patient. It is important that governments pay more than lip service to prevention. They must pay for it because unless it is paid for now, our children will pay dearly for it down the road.

There also is misinformation abroad, such as the claims that sunbeds can help with vitamin D deficiencies. This is the reason these claims are prohibited unless they are prescribed in regulations. As Minister for Health, I can state these measures and others being pursued in the public health arena are designed to promote healthy lifestyle choices among people in Ireland. However, I reiterate what I said earlier, which is that as a doctor, as a politician and as a Minister for Health, I do not believe one should proscribe people from doing things. They should be advised, informed and empowered to make the right decision but the decision is theirs, once they become adults themselves. However, one has a duty of care to the children and they must be protected at all possible times. I thank everyone for their participation in today's Committee Stage debate and look forward to the passage of the Bill later in the Dáil Chamber.