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		Builders' bums and bar-maids' bosoms: MEP savages EU's sun-tan rules Tuesday, 6th September 2005 Today in the Strasbourg parliament, East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer launched a scathing attack on the EU's proposals to make employers responsible for employees' sunburn. The Optical Radiation Directive, under debate in the parliament, includes "natural sources of radiation" - primarily the sun. It has already been pointed out that this could affect the traditional low-cut costumes of bar-maids in Bavarian beer-gardens. It could also affect British brickies who go bare-chested with low-slung jeans in hot weather. Helmer argued that this was the nanny-state run mad, that employees were quite capable of common sense in the sun, and that the only ones to profit from the measure would be the lawyers in the compensation cases, which would impose new costs and uncertainties on industry. Speaking after the debate, Helmer said: "It is time the EU started treating people like grown-ups, and stopped interfering in every detail of our lives. A brickies cleavage may not be a pretty sight, but we don't need Brussels making rules about it" Mr Helmer has also been contacted by many organisations ranging from the National Farmers Union to The Federation of Master Builders who are seriously concerned about the potential impact of this Directive on their members and businesses". Text of Mr Helmer's speech Mr. President, Why do we in this House continue to bring ridicule on ourselves by promoting such egregious measures as this one? In Germany, the media have mocked it because of its effect on Bavarian barmaids' bosoms. In Britain, the press have poked fun at it because it restricts bare-backed building workers. When will we start to treat European citizens like grown-ups, able to make their own decisions? How long will we continue to treat them like small children, seeking to regulate and control every detail of their lives? I accept that a brickie's cleavage is not a pretty sight, but we have no business in this House making rules about it. How long will we continue to pile cost and liability and uncertainty on employers, making European economies less profitable, less competitive? I have been approached by organisations ranging from the National Farmers' Union to the Federation of Master Builders, deeply worried about the impact on their businesses. Sadly, I have not been approached by any Bavarian barmaids, but my door is always open should they wish to see me! Mr. President, this is an unnecessary and damaging measure. The only people to benefit from it will be the compensation lawyers. We should reject it out of hand.