Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me raise this matter, the need for a campaign to address the issue of the dangers of sunburn and the use of sunbeds. As we come towards the time most associated with travelling to sunny tourist destinations, we also have a responsibility to understand the risks associated with getting that tan, whether by natural means or by using a sunbed. We have access to sun holidays and sunbeds all year round now but in moving towards the height of the season we have to be proactive in highlighting the other side of sunburn and the tanning process. We have a responsibility to inform people of the risks but also to show how dangerous it can be to ignore what can appear to be insignificant lumps or bumps.

It is when young people die as a result of what seemed an innocuous lump that relatives have begged me and other politicians to promote understanding of this very serious and fatal issue. This is the reason I wish to know the current status of health awareness campaigns which publicise the risks and inform about the best forms of protection and what signs to look for. I note that in a debate in the House on bowel cancer we conducted an entire debate without outlining the signs of the cancer and what were the best preventative measures.

The fact that sunscreens do not fully prevent the possibility of skin cancer or melanoma is not fully understood. There are differing strengths of sunscreen but they must be applied regularly and not just once daily. This may seem obvious to some but not to everyone. I have been reading up on the issue and I note the list of important signs to be aware of. It is known as the ABCD approach which is: asymmetry, lesions typically irregular in shape; border, melanoma lesions with uneven or irregular borders; colour, melanoma lesions often contain many shades of brown or black whereas benign moles are usually a single shade of brown; and diameter, melanoma lesions are often more than 6 mm in diameter whereas benign moles are less than 6 mm. It is advised that any lesion greater than 6 mm to 10 mm, a lump, bump or otherwise, should be checked by a doctor during a physical examination. Those at risk include people with fair skin that burns or freckles easily, those with relatives who have had skin cancer, those with a history of one or more bad, blistering sunburns as a child or teenager or those who have a history of the disease.

The Irish Cancer Society has informed me that the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children does not fund any sun awareness or skin cancer awareness campaigns. While the Marie Keating Foundation does a certain amount of work, the Irish Cancer Society is the primary charity in this area. The society funds a sun smart campaign every year and will launch the campaign next week with a national advertising campaign which will focus on educating people about the risks of skin cancer. This will target students and people in work places and will advertise a helpline. The society is asking that sunbed legislation be brought forward as soon as possible to regulate the industry and to protect minors from exposure to the harmful effects of sunbeds. This legislation was first promised in 2006. The Irish Cancer Society participated in consultations in 2008 and its priority is to have this legislation brought forward as a matter of urgency.

The Department has stated that this is unlikely to happen before the autumn but given that it seems to be straightforward legislation, it seems that if it is given priority by the Minister, it could be fast-tracked through the legislative process. I understand there can sometimes be valid reasons for not giving priority to certain issues. However, I know people who died very young from something we should be better informed about. We all love to see the sun and to benefit as much as we can from it and get as red as we can. It is very important that the Department rows in with the work this charity is doing through legislation and supporting the awareness campaigns. In working together we can achieve the maximum results. I do not know off-hand the statistics on the number of people dying each year from melanoma but every life lost is a life too many.