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Sunbeds ban to take effect in July
Minister James Reilly urging students attending their Debs to refrain from using sunbeds, with Oisin O'Driscoll (17) and Rebecca Carragher (18)
A ban on the use of sunbeds by people under 18 years of age will take effect next month.
Health Minister James Reilly today appealed to Irish people, especially young people to take serious account of the dangers to their health by over exposure to sunlight or tanning radiation. Skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in Ireland at the moment with over 10,000 new cases annually.
The new law, which Dr Reilly is highlighting today, will ban the use of sunbeds – in a sunbed premises - by persons under 18 years of age. It will be against the law to sell or hire a sunbed to anyone under 18 and the new law forces sunbed operators to make clear all the dangers of sunbed use.
What young people must realise is that they are putting their health at serious risk by using sunbeds.
...said the Minister.
I would ask all sunbed users to consider the pain and scarring and even possible death that can result from skin cancer and to ask themselves ‘is it worth it’? Is having a ‘healthy’ tan really worth risking my life?People can enjoy the sun but it is essential that they take sensible precautions. In particular, parents must take steps to ensure that children are protected from UV rays and that they never ever use sunbeds.
Read the full press release
here.