Introduction of sunbed legislation vital – Keaveney

Donegal Senator Cecilia Keaveney said that the planned Government introduction of legislation to regulate the use of sunbeds is vital in the fight against skin cancer.

She said she is supportive of the moves already made by the Minister or Health and Children Mary Harney TD to bring forward comprehensive legislation on the issue, with plans to prohibit use of sunbeds by those under 18 years of age particularly welcome.

“Minister Harney has always been very forthright in her intentions to introduce legislation on the regulation of sunbeds as part of the overall Government cancer control agenda and it cannot come a moment too soon. She has confirmed that she will seek Government approval later this month for the introduction of comprehensive legislation to regulate the entire sunbed industry.

“The legislation will take into account the recommendations of bodies such as the Irish Cancer Society, the National Cancer Control Programme and the World Health Organisation.

“Sunbeds were classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) placing sunbed use in the same category as environmental tobacco smoke. There is no doubt that they pose incredible dangers to our health and I look forward to the introduction of the Government’s legislation,” concluded Senator Cecilia Keaveney.