Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:“5. (1) The owner, manager or employee of a sunbed business shall not sell the use of a sunbed on a sunbed premises to a person unless—

(a) the owner, manager or employee has assessed the person’s skin type in
accordance with the Fitzpatrick skin photo type classification system, or
(b) the person has provided the owner, manager or employee with a certificate from a medical practitioner that certifies that the medical practitioner has assessed the person’s skin type in accordance with the Fitzpatrick skin photo type classification system and states the results of that assessment.

(2) A person whose skin type is assessed as Type I or Type II under subsection (1)(a) or(b) shall not be permitted to use a sunbed on the sunbed premises.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence.”.

I thank the Minister for Health for coming to the Seanad and for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to take the debate in the Seanad when we are dealing with health legislation. Regardless of our many political skirmishes we very much appreciate that he is exemplary in coming to the Seanad.
We are doing very good work in legislating for the use of sunbeds. We are all agreed on the provisions of the Bill and the need to protect citizens.
Senator Cullinane and I and I am sure others will agree that we are falling short in a very critical part and that is the reason we tabled amendments that are in line with the Irish Cancer Society policy. In our amendments, we propose the introduction of regulations to ensure that particular skin types are adequately catered for. The Irish Cancer Society has promoted the identification of skin types and that people with specific skin types that are more vulnerable would not be permitted to use sunbeds on sunbed premises. We also provide that a person must have a certificate from a medical practitioner that certifies that his or her skin type has been assessed in accordance with the Fitzpatrick skin photo type.
I have no need to tell the Minister, who is a doctor, that the incidence of cancer is rising and is a threat to society. My own mother, who is no longer with us, had skin cancer on three different occasions. She had sallow skin. It would be wise to embrace what the Irish Cancer Society is promoting. Senator Cullinane and I were happy to table amendments that encompass their recommendations. The Minister can embrace the thrust of the amendments to build on the good legislation that will be passed by this House.