Press Release: Wednesday 9 July 2025
Minister Murnane O’Connor welcomes IPH report on sunbed use and announces a cross-departmental Working Group to explore a ban on commercial sunbed use
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has welcomed a new report by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) recommending a ban on sunbeds in Ireland to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
The report also supports the Government’s commitment under the Programme for Government 2025 to explore a ban on commercial sunbed use. Minister Murnane O’Connor recently established a Working Group to consider how this can be achieved.
‘An overview of sunbed use in Ireland and policy options to reduce skin cancer risk’ provides compelling evidence that sunbed use continues among both adults and children in Ireland, despite existing regulations. It highlights the significant public health risks associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunbeds, which are classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation and the European Commission.
Speaking ahead of the Working Group’s first meeting, Minister Murnane O’Connor said:
“This report reinforces what we already know—there is no safe level of sunbed use. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, and we must act decisively to protect our population, particularly our young people, from preventable harm.
“The evidence is clear: sunbeds are still being used by children and young people, despite legal restrictions. This is deeply concerning. We must do everything within our power to protect people from its harms in order to save lives and reduce the burden of cancer on our health service. “
The Minister also praised the work of the IPH and the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service in advancing public health policy through research, enforcement and collaboration.
Minister Murnane O’Connor added:
“I commend the IPH for this important work. We now have a strong foundation to move forward with policy measures that prioritise the health and wellbeing of our communities, and I look forward to supporting the Working Group along with colleagues across Government and the health sector as we consider the next steps.”