Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:29 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the extent of health problems caused by unqualified body piercing; and the action, if any, he will take in this regard. [26684/99]
Written Answers. - Body Piercing.
The activities of body piercing services are not subject to regulation and I have no plans to regulate them. Under the Infectious Disease Regulations, 1981, health boards are empowered, where there is reason to believe that a possible source of infection exists, to carry out an investigation and to take such steps as are necessary or desirable for investigating the nature and source of such infection, for preventing the spread of infection and for removing conditions favourable to such infection.
My Department is preparing a guide to good practice for tattooing and body piercing. It will deal primarily with prevention of the spread of infection and will be of assistance both to health boards and to those operating tattooing or body piercing services. An information leaflet for the public is also being prepared. It is hoped to complete work on these documents in 2000.