Vol. 552 No. 4
117 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the licensing and regulation of tattooists here; the arrangements in place to license and regulate tattooists in other EU countries; his plans to ensure the tattooists are operating under hygienic conditions and do not pose a health threat to the general population; his further plans to license and regulate tattooists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12791/02]
There is no legislation specifically regulating the operation of tattooists in this country and there are no plans to introduce any such regulations. The aim of the Department is to have "good practice" guidelines drawn up rather than specific regulations. It is intended that these guidelines will serve to assist environmental health officers in their inspection of premises under the Infectious Diseases Regulations.
The Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981, health boards are empowered, where there is reason to believe that a suspected case of an infectious disease or a probable source of infection of such disease exists, to carry out an investigation and take such steps as are necessary or desirable for investigating the nature and source of such infection, for preventing the spread of such infection and for removing conditions favourable to infection.
The licensing or regulation of tattooists is a matter for the appropriate authorities in each member state. Accordingly, I do not have comprehensive data regarding the position in each of the EU countries.
