Sunbeds Could Be Banned
Updated : Aug 25, 2009
Health Minister Mary Harney today backed a blanket ban on sunbeds in a bid to tackle growing levels of skin cancer.
Amid consultation on tough laws potentially banning youngsters from tanning shops, Ms Harney said she asked officials to explore the possibility of completely outlawing the industry.
“I would personally like to ban sunbeds for everybody,†the minister said.
“It’s a no-brainer – we know the huge level of skin cancer in Ireland, we know that sunbeds are dangerous and hugely contributing to people developing skin cancer.â€
Ms Harney was at the Livestrong global cancer summit in Dublin’s RDS organised by cycling star and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.
She said she hoped legislation on the underage use of tanning beds would be ratified quickly.
“It’s particularly sad to see children as young as six or seven, in advance of their first Holy Communion for example, being exposed to sunbeds. That’s why the priority has to be children,†the minister said.
“But clearly if I could do it on a wider scale that’s something I would like to give full consideration to, and I have asked the department to look at that to see if it’s possible.â€
EU approval on a total ban could well be forthcoming in the interests of public health, the minister added.
According to the National Cancer Registry’s most recent figures, there were 99 deaths from skin cancer in 2007 and 7,743 new cases recorded.
VHP is a little sad he will have no tangerine people to laugh at-but then again there is always messed up fake tan!
