Public Consultation on a Potential Ban on Commercial Sunbed Use in Ireland

Minister of State Ms Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy has launched an online public consultation seeking the views and opinions of the public and industry on a proposed ban on commercial sunbed use.

The estimated time to complete Section A is: 10 minutes

As Section B consists of free text responses no estimated time can be provided.

Section A of the survey is directed to the general public and business operators. In this section we are interested in your awareness of the health risks associated with sunbed use, your attitudes toward government regulation of sunbeds, your view on the acceptability of a ban on commercial sunbed use, and what factors influence your support or opposition to such a ban.

Section B of the survey is directed to business operators, those working in sunbed businesses, and others in this industry. In this section we are interested in your views on a potential ban on commercial sunbed use and your input on what supports you feel businesses may require following the implementation of any such ban.

The views and opinions collected will be considered and will be used to inform future policy and legislation regarding a potential ban on commercial sunbed use.

Please note that any potential ban on commercial sunbed will not include phototherapy provided under the supervision or direction of a relevant medical practitioner in a healthcare establishment.

Please click on the ‘Complete Survey’ link below to take the survey. You will be redirected to the EU survey site where you will be given further instructions on how to complete the survey.

Please note:

1) We are seeking views from residents of Ireland only.

2) Internet Provider (IP) addresses will be retained for the sole purpose of identifying whether a response was generated in Ireland and only one response will be accepted from each IP address.

Further information is available from the following links:

1) https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/prevention/national-skin-cancer-prevention-2023-2026-web-file-.pdf

2) https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/the-public-health-sunbeds-act/

A consultation report will be prepared based on the responses to this questionnaire. However, individual responses will not be reported. The responses will be considered and will be used to inform future policy and legislation regarding a potential ban on commercial sunbed use.

All responses will be retained until such time as they are appraised by the National Archives to determine whether they warrant permanent retention as archives in accordance with the Department’s obligations under the terms of the National Archives Act, 1986.

Any personal information submitted to the Department will be treated strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/67 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please note people can request to see the responses we receive under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and therefore responses may be released in response to an FOI request. This is more likely to happen with responses from organisations. This means that the requestor might get your answers to the questionnaire, however, any personal information included in responses would be redacted prior to release. If you have any queries, please email: Sunbeds_Public_Consultation@health.gov.ie

Access the department’s Privacy Policy.

The Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs strategy would like to extend her thanks for your participation in this public consultation. Your input will inform future policy and legislation on this public health priority.

Sunbeds_Public_Consultation@health.gov.ie

To view the consultation click the button below.