Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While I understand we must comply with European law, perhaps I need to raise directly with the Minister for Health and suggest that sunscreen be added to the medicines list or be listed as a preventative cure. Ireland has a high rate of skin cancer and the VAT rate makes it so prohibitive that many people cannot afford to buy sunscreen. It can be quite expensive, especially the better products which have extra ingredients that prevent skin cancer.In the long term, it would be a cost-saving measure because if you can prevent something or cure it, people do not have to have treatment. Perhaps the Minister of State will take back to the Minister the question of whether there is any way of changing how sunscreen is classified.