Latest news with #PublicHealth(Sunbeds)Act2014


Sunday World
21-06-2025
- Business
- Sunday World
Tanning salon hit with €2,600 fine for selling sun-bed session to 15-year-old girl
In the case before Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a fine of €1,000 and costs of €1,600 on Shannon based sun-bed business, Solcraft Ltd for selling a sun-bed session to a 15 year old girl at its sun-bed premises, Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon last November. Frequent sunbed use is known to increase skin cancer risk. Photo: Getty A judge, who has stated that it is a pity that there is not a ban on sun-bed operators facilitating sun-bed sessions for adults, has imposed a €2,600 penalty on a sun-bed business selling a sun-bed session to a minor. In the case before Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a fine of €1,000 and costs of €1,600 on Shannon based sun-bed business, Solcraft Ltd for selling a sun-bed session to a 15 year old girl at its sun-bed premises, Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon last November. The Health Service Executive (HSE) brought the rare prosecution under Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 after a 15 year old 'secret shopper' was deployed by the HSE to do a test purchase at Cosmopoli Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Bru Na Sionna, Shannon on November 26th 2024. Solicitor for the HSE, Barry Kelleher of of Comyn Kelleher Tobin solicitors told the court on Friday that on the date 'a 15 year old child attended at the salon and approached the counter and asked for use of sun-bed session' Mr Kelleher said that 'the child asked for three minutes of time and she was told that she could get four minutes for the price of three'. Mr Kelleher said that the child 'was never asked for her age or ID'. He said that the firm has no previous convictions. He said that the transaction took place and the child left the premises. Solicitor for the firm, John Casey said that the business has a number of notices placed across its premises saying 'No ID, no sunbed' and similar notices. Frequent sunbed use is known to increase skin cancer risk. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Mr Kelleher said that that there was a further inspection of the premises in April of this year as there was a report of underage sale continuing. Mr Casey said that on that date the company was found to be in compliance. Mr Kelleher said the test purchasers deployed by the HSE don't actually take the sun-bed sessions. Judge Gabbett said: 'You would need danger money to do that.' Mr Kelleher told the court that people aged under 35 who undergo sun-bed sessions increase their risk of contracting melanoma by 75pc. Judge Gabbett said that 'children should not in these premises - that is very straightforward' Judge Gabbett said that he was imposing the €1,000 fine as a deterrent to ensure compliance. When the case first came to court last month, Judge Gabbett remarked that it is a good thing that children are banned from having sun-bed sessions stating 'it is a pity that this doesn't apply to adults as well." Asked on the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a spokesman for the HSE said last month: 'In 2024, ten fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. He said: 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court.' He added: "In 2023, seventeen fixed payment notices were served, and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and one was upheld by the Court.


Extra.ie
15-06-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Sunbed salons ‘openly flout ban on youngsters'
One in five tanning salons is accepting minors in 'flagrant breaches' of the law, as cancer charities have warned that children as young as First Communion age are using sunbeds. It comes as new data obtained by points to a negligent attitude to customer health in the tanning industry, with one third of formal salon inspections having been failed in the past two years. Responding to the revelations, the minister responsible for public health this weekend pledged to further examine banning sunbeds, calling the level of non-compliance 'unacceptable'. According to the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014, it is illegal for businesses to allow under-18s to use tanning beds. The UV-emitting machines have been shown to increase the risk of skin cancer after just a single use. One in five tanning salons is accepting minors in 'flagrant breaches' of the law, as cancer charities have warned that children as young as First Communion age are using sunbeds. Pic:According to the Department of Health, the risk of melanoma is increased by 75% when sunbed use starts before the age of 35. The HSE, responsible for enforcing the safety legislation, sends supervised minors to tanning salons for 'test shops' as part of its enforcement strategy. Last year, 11 out of 50 salons subjected to that test allowed minors to buy time on a sunbed, according to figures provided by the HSE. In 2023, nine out of 47 salons tested were prepared to allow a minor to use their business. Bernie Carter, who is assistant director of nursing at the Marie Keating Foundation and leads a schools' programme and skin cancer awareness programme for the charity, said that there is 'definitely' an issue with minors illegally using sunbeds. Ms Carter told Extra: 'I was outside a particular [tanning salon] around Holy Communion time last year. There was a parent who was walking in with a very young child. We had our van parked close by, and that young child did come out looking darker.' The experienced oncology nurse, who contributes to the National Cancer Control Programme, said sunbeds pose a 'huge risk when it comes to skin cancer', and pointed to the approach of Australia, where commercial tanning salons are banned. Steve Dempsey, director of advocacy and communications at the Irish Cancer Society, said regulations around sunbeds 'and a lack of enforcement mean that minors are still accessing sunbeds'. It comes as new data obtained by points to a negligent attitude to customer health in the tanning industry, with one third of formal salon inspections having been failed in the past two years. He told Extra: 'We know this from our own research and from parents who contact us to say their child has used sunbeds in flagrant breaches of the regulations by commercial sunbed operators.' A spokesman for Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, said she is 'deeply concerned by the data from the inspections'. The spokesman told Extra: 'Given the well-documented health risks associated with sunbed use, particularly for young people, this level of non-compliance is unacceptable. 'To address this issue, the minister, under the Programme for Government, has requested that officials in the Department of Health examine a ban on commercial sunbed use in Ireland. 'Additionally, the department will explore further public awareness campaigns to highlight the risks of sunbed use, especially targeting minors and their parents.' The lack of enforcement banning minors from using sunbeds was highlighted by Extra just over two years ago, when we reported just two salons in the entire country had been prosecuted under legislation introduced nine years previously. The HSE this weekend confirmed there have now been 10 prosecutions in total – less than one a year since the legislation was introduced. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously called for the banning of sunbeds, as have former health ministers Stephen Donnelly and the now Tánaiste Simon Harris. Pic:Ms Murnane O'Connor has also received representations on the matter from her former constituency colleague and now MEP Kathleen Funchion, and from Laura Warren, a skin cancer survivor and founder of Elite Living Nutrition, whose petition calling for a ban on sunbeds has collected almost 2,000 signatures. Pointing to the latest figures that show skin cancer is the fastest-growing cancer in Ireland, with over 13,000 new cases diagnosed each year, Ms Warren said: 'Melanoma can spread rapidly and is often deadly if not caught early. Banning sunbeds would save thousands of lives and millions in healthcare costs.' Aside from the tests at shops carried out with minors, the HSE conducts 'mystery shops' and formal inspections. Last year, 145 formal inspections out of 492 were non-compliant. In 2023, there were 175 non-compliant inspections from a total of 425. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously called for the banning of sunbeds, as have former health ministers Stephen Donnelly and the now Tánaiste Simon Harris.

The Journal
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Judge says it's a 'pity' that ban on sunbeds for under-18s doesn't also apply to adults
A JUDGE HAS said it's pity that Ireland's ban on providing tanning sunbed sessions to under-18s doesn't also apply for adult customers. Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment at Ennis District Court after the Shannon-based business Solcraft Ltd entered a guilty plea to selling the use of a sunbed at Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon to a person under the age of 18. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is bringing the rare prosecution under Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 where only two such HSE prosecutions for the sale of sunbed sessions to minors were recorded in 2024. Solcraft Ltd of Dun Na Rí, Shannon has pleaded guilty to the offence taking place at Cosmopoli Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Bru Na Sionna, Shannon on 26 November 2024. Acting as agent in the case on behalf of solicitor, John Casey, solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick told the court there is a guilty plea in the case by Solcraft Ltd. Judge Gabbett told the court that sunbed operators can't facilitate providing a sunbed session to children. He said: 'That is a very good thing. It is a pity that this doesn't apply to adults as well.' Advertisement Solicitor for the HSE Michelle Cronin said: 'I wouldn't disagree with you, Judge.' Judge Gabbett said: 'To be frank now, there were prosecutions by the HSE for smoking [in the workplace]… this is the same thing. It is probably more dangerous.' Cronin said: 'It is a concern to us that there is an increase in the amount of sunbeds available.' The HSE was prosecuting three parties for the same offence in the case and Cronin of Comyn Kelleher Tobin Solicitors said that the HSE was withdrawing the prosecutions against Przemyslaw Szczupak of Cosmopoli Tan and Munique Comargo of Cregaun, Ennis. Asked on the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a spokesman for the HSE said: 'In 2024, ten fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court. 'In 2023, seventeen fixed payment notices were served, and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and one was upheld by the Court.' Judge Gabbett adjourned the case for sentence to 20 June at Ennis District Court.


Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Sunbeds: Judge says it's a pity ban is not extended to adults too
A judge has stated that it is a pity that there is not a ban on sunbed operators facilitating sunbed sessions for adults. At Ennis District Court on Friday, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment after a Shannon-based sunbed business, Solcraft Ltd entered a guilty plea to selling the use of a sunbed at Cosmopoli-Tan in Shannon to a person under the age of 18. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is bringing the rare prosecution under Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 where only two such HSE prosecutions for the sale of sunbed sessions to minors were recorded in 2024. Solcraft Ltd of Dun Na Ri, Shannon has pleaded guilty to the offence taking place at Cosmopoli-Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Brú Na Sionna, Shannon on November 26th 2024. Acting as agent in the case on behalf of solicitor, John Casey, solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick told the court there is a guilty plea in the case by Solcraft Ltd. Judge Gabbett told the court that sunbed operators can't facilitate providing a sunbed session to children. He said: 'That is a very good thing. It is a pity that this doesn't apply to adults as well." Solicitor for the HSE, Michelle Cronin said: "I wouldn't disagree with you, Judge.' Judge Gabbett said: To be frank now, there were prosecutions by the HSE for smoking [in the workplace] but this is the same thing. It is probably more dangerous. Ms Cronin said: 'It is a concern to us that there is an increase in the amount of sunbeds available.' The HSE was prosecuting three parties for the same offence in the case and Ms Cronin of Comyn Kelleher Tobin Solicitors said that the HSE was withdrawing the prosecutions against Przemyslaw Szczupak of Cosmopoli-Tan and Munique Comargo of Cregaun, Ennis. Asked on the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a spokesman for the HSE said on Friday: 'In 2024, ten fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. He said: 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court.' He added: "In 2023, 17 fixed payment notices were served, and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. "Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and one was upheld by the Court." Judge Gabbett adjourned the case for sentence to June 20 at Ennis District Court. Read More Salon caught in sting operation admits breaking sunbed rules for under-18s