Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

It is welcome that the Minister has published the legislation dealing with sunbeds. We should consider other preventive health measures that could be taken. As part of the programme for Government there was to be an annual health check for everyone in the country. Prevention is better than cure. It is less expensive to deal with people when diseases or illnesses are detected early. One's mental health should be included in the annual health check. There has been much controversy in recent days and probably will be in the coming days on the priorities set within the programme for Government. The health initiative should be very much to the fore.

In the context of the legislation dealing with sunbeds, a few of us have a good colour because of the recent sunny weather. It is important, however, that we take preventive measures to look after our skin between now and the end of the summer. The legislation is even more important, given that one can use totally unregulated sunbed providers. One might have exposure to a sunbed for a few minutes while waiting to be served with a DVD. It has been proved that in many instances there is such a lack of regulation that three times as much radiation is given off than in an average X-ray. Therefore, it is important that the legislation is dealt with early in the next term. I ask the Leader to bring it to the attention of the Minister that we would be more than delighted to address the issue of sunbeds and also the preventive measures to be encompassed in the promised health check which should include one's mental as well as physical health.