Sunbeds Report: Minister Murnane O’Connor publishes Sunbeds Public Consultation Report

The latest gov.ie health update puts Ireland’s debate on commercial sunbeds firmly in the spotlight. Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has published the Sunbeds Public Consultation Report, outlining how the public, health professionals, industry representatives and advocacy groups responded to the proposal to ban commercial sunbed use in Ireland.

Issued by the Department of Health, the report is a significant step in the Government’s wider examination of whether tighter public health rules should apply to commercial sunbeds. It also signals that any final decision will be shaped by evidence, legal review, EU engagement and broader policy analysis rather than a rushed political move.

gov.ie report highlights divided views on commercial sunbeds

The consultation opened on 25 July 2025 and closed on 3 October 2025. According to the published findings on gov.ie, it received 9,320 survey responses from people living in Ireland, alongside 11 written organisational submissions.

The report shows a clear split in public opinion:

• Many respondents opposed a ban, pointing to personal choice and individual freedom.
• Some linked sunbed use to confidence, appearance and mental wellbeing.
• Others raised concerns about unintended consequences, including a shift to unregulated settings.
• Public health stakeholders, NGOs and patient advocates argued for stronger controls, including a possible ban.
• Supporters of stricter measures emphasised cancer prevention, child protection and the risk of exposure to a known carcinogen.

This divergence is likely to shape the next stage of deliberations across Government, including departments connected to Health, Justice, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Children/Disability/Equality.

What Minister Murnane O’Connor said

In publishing the consultation findings on gov.ie, Minister Murnane O’Connor said the report offers valuable insight into a complex issue where strongly held opinions exist across the public, health sector and industry.

She stressed that the Government intends to move forward in an evidence-based and proportionate way. That means the report will now feed into deeper policy work, including legal, economic and EU-level considerations before options are formally put before Government.

The statement also underlines the role of stakeholder engagement in modern Irish policymaking, similar to how other public bodies and agencies such as the Health Service Executive (HSE), Citizens Information Board, HIQA and the Data Protection Commission (DPC) often contribute to wider public policy frameworks.

What happens next after the gov.ie publication?

The publication does not introduce an immediate ban. Instead, it marks the end of the consultation phase and the start of more detailed assessment.

Next steps likely to include

1. Further policy analysis by the Department of Health
2. Review of legal and economic implications
3. Engagement at EU level
4. Consideration of public health evidence and enforcement issues
5. Submission of policy options to Government for decision

This approach reflects how Irish public administration, from the Department of the Taoiseach to agencies dealing with regulation, Finance and Social Protection, increasingly relies on consultation-backed decision-making.

Why this gov.ie consultation matters

The Sunbeds Public Consultation Report matters because it gives policymakers a detailed picture of how Ireland views a potentially far-reaching health restriction. While no final decision has been made, the gov.ie publication confirms that commercial sunbed regulation remains firmly on the Government agenda.

For now, the key takeaway is simple: gov.ie has published the evidence-gathering phase, the public remains divided, and the Government will now weigh health risks, legal issues and EU considerations before deciding whether Ireland should move toward a commercial sunbed ban.

Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie