Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Neill for raising this issue and for his insightful and well-informed survey of the issues. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter. At present, there is no legislation specifically regulating the activities of persons providing tattooing or body piercing services in Ireland. However, it should also be noted that there are many cases where young people acquire tattoos or piercings while on holidays abroad or travelling, so even the legal framework advocated by Senator O'Neill would not have extraterritorial effect. I understand the issues he is raising in respect of this jurisdiction.

Tattooing and body piercing businesses are required to comply with general public health and safety legislation in the same way as any other business. The responsibilities of all business operators include taking all reasonable precautions for the safety of persons using the premises. The infectious diseases regulations empower medical officers or health and environmental health officers to take any necessary steps to investigate the nature and source of any infections linked to tattooing or body piercing. Anyone who carries out tattooing or body piercing on a person without informed consent may face criminal prosecution.

It is also an offence if tattooing or body piercing is carried out on certain parts of the body of a child, even if consent has been obtained or purportedly obtained. High standards of hygiene are necessary when carrying out tattooing and body piercing to minimise the risks of infection for both the person carrying out the tattooing or piercing and the client. Standard infection control procedures developed for the health care setting can and should be applied to any settings where there is a potential for persons to be exposed to blood or other body fluids and this includes tattooing and body piercing premises. It is also advisable that persons carrying out tattooing and body piercing should receive hepatitis B vaccination.

My Department and the Health Service Executive are currently reviewing policy on tattooing and body piercing. The focus is on the development of best practice guidance and is aimed at practitioners in the area. The main objective of this guidance is to encourage best hygiene practice by tattooists and piercers, thereby minimising the risk of infection and so protecting them and their clients. The issue of obtaining informed consent will also be examined in the course of the review. The draft guidance document has been developed and is the subject of consultation within the health sector. It is expected that the Department and the HSE will be in a position to bring it to completion later this year. It is not advisable for anyone under 18 years to seek to have permanent tattoos and it is important that people should be cautious in respect of body piercing - the Senator has reflected as much in his contribution.