Ulick Burke
Question:63 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines which exist for tattoo parlours and body piercing salons. [19336/01]
Written Answers. - Tattooing and Body Piercing.
Under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981, health boards are empowered, where there is reason to believe that a probable source of infection exists, to carry out an investigation and take such steps as are necessary or desirable to investigate the nature and source of such infection, to prevent the spread of such infection and to remove conditions favourable to infection.
My Department is in the process of preparing "good practice" guidelines for tattooing and body-piercing. It is intended that these guidelines will also serve to assist environmental health officers in their inspection of premises under the infectious diseases regulations. It is also intended to produce an advice and information leaflet for the general public about the possible risks attached to tattooing and body-piercing.
While a considerable amount of work has been undertaken to date, the guidelines are not yet finalised. Further consideration of the issues involved and further consultation with appropriate interested parties is necessary before my Department will be in a position to bring the guidelines to completion.