Liz McManus
Ceist:204 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the safeguards in place for young people in relation to body piercing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/00]
Written Answers. - Body Piercing.
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 a guide to good practice for tattooing and body piercing. It is intended to deal primarily with prevention of the spread of infection and to be of assistance both to health boards and to those operating tattooing or body piercing services. It is planned to prepare an information leaflet for the public also.