Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very confident that the Government has chosen well over the years regarding the election of Cathaoirligh.

Senator Conway spoke about water issues at Miltown Malbay, where there was no water during the past two weekends. It is regrettable. There are situations that arise from time to time. I am not sure of the intimate details in relation to what is going on at Miltown Malbay, but I know that situations arise from time to time in my own area. Certainly, I will ask the office to contact Irish Water, as I am sure Senator Conway and others have done, to try to get to the bottom of the issue and perhaps even arrange a meeting with the Oireachtas Members in County Clare on that issue.

Senator Gallagher mentioned the case of a nurse who was forced into retirement because of long Covid. He asked the Minister for Health to engage on the system or framework we have in relation to the scheme for long Covid. I will certainly ask him to come to the House to discuss matters regarding long Covid. I know there was a recent briefing at the Oireachtas health committee, where matters relating to long Covid were discussed. It is certainly an issue that affects a cohort of people and it is important that it is taken seriously.

Senator Lombard raised the very serious issue of skin cancer, which is close to his heart and his family. Cancer, in general, impacts and affects one in two of us and one in three of us will die of some form of cancer. In general, people are living longer and treatment and research is improving, but it is still a killer. Skin cancer is one of those issues on which people, particularly those who are younger, might have a blasé view, but it is a serious issue. The Senator quite rightly raised the issue of sunbeds. Given that the Minister for Finance raises the cost of excise duty on a pack of cigarettes by 20 cent or 50 cent every year on budget day, it would be interesting to ascertain whether there is a method whereby we could have some sort of tax on sunbeds. If they cannot be banned, can they be taxed to a degree that their use is prohibitive? I know it is a fashion thing or whatever else. People use fake tan and those sorts of things, certainly for the Galway races or whatever else. Unless the weather improves this year, there will be a lot of it. Certainly, one would not encourage anyone to use it.