Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute on this Bill, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on many families. Many consumers have the tendency to believe that if a product is on the market it has been deemed safe. This assumption is wrong and it is our job to have laws in place that protect our citizens. We all know the dangers of tobacco and alcohol. Over the years, new legislation has come into place in order to protect people, especially children, from the harmful effects of those substances.

It is widely known that most forms of ultraviolet radiation contribute to skin cancer. The main contributors of UV radiation are the sun, sunbeds and sun lamps. Over the years, the use of sunbeds has become more common among Irish people, contributing to a variety of medical conditions, with skin cancer being the most serious and dangerous one. Research published in the British Medical Journal reveals that 794 people die each year in Europe from sunbed-induced skin cancer. In Ireland, the situation is even more serious, with 158 deaths from skin cancer in 2011. In up to 90% of cases, the cause of the cancer is mostly the exposure to one or more cancer causing factors. The majority of people are aware of the dangers that prolonged exposure to the sun can cause, yet many still choose to use sunbeds for cosmetic purposes not knowing that the intensity of the UV rays of some sunbeds can be five or more times stronger than what they would get from the midday sun. People need to know that using a sunbed is not a safer way to tan.

Lack of regulation of the industry only makes the situation more dangerous, with information on the number and standard of sun tan studios difficult to come by. Studies have shown a lack of public knowledge about the health risks associated with the use of sunbeds. The main reason people use them is to have an all year round "healthy look" not knowing about or dismissing the dangers and health risks that come with it. I am aware of some people, mostly women, who engage the services of tanning salons for a period of weeks before they go on two-week sun holidays. One can only imagine the damage done if this is a yearly practice for some people.

sunbeds are more dangerous for some than others. People who have a frequent sunburn history, a large number of moles or a family history of skin cancer are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. It is also widely known that people with fair skin are more likely to get sunburn and, as a result, have a higher risk of developing skin cancer. The protection of citizens is a priority for the Government. We must spread the knowledge and, where necessary, use the power of law in order to ensure that people's health is being protected. For this reason, the Bill should prohibit people with the fairest skin, referred to as Type 1 and Type 2, from using sunbeds.

The Irish Cancer Society, the World Health Organization, WHO, and the Environmental Health Officers Association agree that no one should use a sunbed to get a tan. In fact, the WHO has classed sunbeds alongside cigarettes on the list of the most cancer causing substances. The current Fianna Fáil leader and former Minister for Health and Children took a bold step some years ago in prohibiting smoking in public places, including workplaces. That Act will be forever seen as one of the most innovative pieces of legislation on the protection of people's health against the damages caused by passive smoking. This Bill is as important as that one in our quest to tackle bad practices that lead to cancer and will be seen in years to come as vital in reducing the number of cases of skin cancer in particular.

Some of the proposals contained within the Bill include the control on the remote sale or hire of sunbeds, provisions that tanning salons provide training for staff and that inspections can be carried out by the HSE.

Education on the dangers of over exposure to sunbeds is paramount. The decision to have warning signs displayed in all sunbed premises alongside the prohibition on promotional marketing practices is very welcome, as is the requirement on operators to ensure that sunbed users are made fully aware of the potential dangers of sunbed use and who must be given an opportunity to read the health information form and sign up before they use the sunbeds. I also welcome the decision by the Minister to prohibit persons under 18 to use a sunbed in tanning salons, and to prohibit the use of sunbeds in unsupervised premises. It galls most people to see little girls, many under 12, spending hours in tanning salons before their First Holy Communion or Confirmation ceremonies. Apart from anything else, this is a religious occasion and it is sad that some parents is our society would be so reckless as to encourage their children to partake in such a vanity exercise and to ignore all the health implications.

Finally, I congratulate the Minister for introducing and indeed all parties in the House for supporting this Bill, which is very timely.

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