The Government has published planned legislation that will ban the use of sunbeds for under 18s, as well as tigtening up regulations on sunbed provision and use.

The Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill 2013 prohibits operators of sunbed premises from allowing anyone under 18 years of age to use a sunbed on their premises and to prohibit the use of sunbeds in unsupervised premises.

Other provisions of the legislation include:

· Control on internet sale or hire of sunbeds.
· A requirement that sunbed operators provide training for staff.
· An enforcement regime to enable inspections to be carried out by the HSE and the imposition of penalties for non-compliance including fixed payment notices.
· An obligation on all sunbed operators to provide protective eyewear and that the sunbeds are maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.
· A requirement that warning signs be displayed in all sunbed premises.
· A prohibition on certain claims attributing health benefits to sunbed use.

Announcing the legislation, Health Minister James Reilly said action was required to protect the public, in particular children and young persons, from the risk of skin damage, and the increased risk of developing skin cancer.

"We need to promote a greater public awareness across all age groups of the dangers of developing skin cancer, premature ageing and eye damage from exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). I believe that this Bill will contribute to a reduction in the incidence of skin cancers over the coming years."

The Irish Cancer Society has welcomed the legislation but has expressed concerns that the Bill does not go far enough.

It says the Bill does not prohibit people with Type 1 and Type 2 skin - the fairest skin types - from using sunbeds as is the case in Australia. Most people in Ireland have Type 1 or Type 2 skin.

The Cancer Society pointed out that there is a strong link between sunbed use and skin cancer.

In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) placed sunbeds in the highest cancer risk category and listed them as being as carcinogenic as tobacco and plutonium, it said.