The Irish Cancer Society has demanded government scrap VAT on sunscreen products with immediate effect.
The calls follow the introduction of free sun protection in the Netherlands in public spaces this summer. The measure is being rolled out in order to address rising levels of skin cancer.
Ireland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide, with 13,000 diagnoses made each year. CEO of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power argued that sunscreen is an essential medical product and that government policy should reflect this.