John Gormley
Question:187 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to introduce legislation to regulate the body piercing business. [20447/01]
Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.
The activities of body piercing services are not covered by legislation 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 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. Due to other competing demands it is not possible at this stage to put a timeframe on the completion of these guidelines.