Government advisers to recommend whether to ban sunbeds within six months

Reports from the HSE highlighted how skin cancer diagnoses were rising rapidly, with 11,000 cases a year in Ireland.

A new working group to examine whether commercial sunbeds should be banned in Ireland must report back to the Government with its recommendation within six months.

According to the terms of reference for the group published this week, it must provide a “clear, evidence-based" recommendation on whether Ireland should ban sunbeds along with a roadmap for legislative measures to achieve this goal.

“The group’s work will build on the overall vision to reverse the rising incidence of skin cancer in Ireland,” the terms of reference stated.

Although already banned for children and teenagers under the age of 18, concerns have been repeatedly raised over the of use of sunbeds in Ireland — both for children and adults.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he would favour a ban, drawing parallels with the smoking ban implemented when he was health minister.

Speaking earlier this month, he said it was a “no brainer”, adding that he would ”hope we bring in legislation”.

He was reacting to reports from the HSE which highlighted how skin cancer diagnoses were rising rapidly, with 11,000 cases a year in Ireland.

It said that it is never safe to use a sunbed and there is no safe limit of exposure to UV radiation from sunbeds.

“Skin cancer is a significant public health problem in Ireland,” specialist in public health medicine Dr Breeda Neville warned.

“The majority of skin cancers are caused by UV exposure, which means that skin cancer is largely preventable by protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays and by not using sunbeds.” 

Furthermore, a separate report published this month by the Institute of Public Health recommended a ban on sunbeds as it said Ireland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.

It said its evidence shows that children continue to use sunbeds despite a ban in place for under-18s while HSE inspections have found infringements including the unsafe use of sunbeds by adults and accepting underage customers.

Its director of policy Dr Helen McAvoy said: “A ban on sunbeds has been shown to work. In Australia, it is estimated to have prevented tens of thousands of skin cancers and led to significant health cost savings.

“Introducing a similar ban on sunbeds in Ireland could help to stem skin cancer rates, which are projected to double over the next 20 years.” 

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The Institute of Public Health is represented on this working group set up by the Government, with a majority of members coming from the HSE and Department of Health, as well as one member from the Department of Enterprise.

Under its terms of reference, the group must consider the evidence to support a ban as well as considering how it has worked in other jurisdictions.

It must also “consult with key stakeholders such as cancer advocacy groups, business owners, patient representatives, youth groups, traveller group representatives, etc".

Furthermore, the “potential economic impact of a ban on sunbed operators” must be considered, along with additional measures to reduce skin cancer in Ireland.

It must meet monthly, and deliver its final report within six months of its first meeting, indicating it will likely be concluded in the new year.