Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It was revealed yesterday that the number of skin cancer cases has risen by 36% from 1997 to 2007 and, even more disturbingly, that there has been a 75% increase in malignant melanoma in females under 50 years of age. What plans have the Government to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of sunbeds by under 18 year olds? It was signalled this would be addressed as part of the public health (miscellaneous provisions) Bill but, as the most recent Government programme of promised legislation indicates, as yet there is no indication when that Bill will be published despite it having been on lists of promised legislation for years. What is the prospect of that Bill being brought forward or will the Government consider, given the serious and worrying statistics in regard to skin cancer cases, bringing forward that element of the promised legislation as a stand-alone Bill to address this issue as a matter of urgency?

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