Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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570. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to regulate the beauty industry and his engagement to date with beauticians and salon operators regarding same. [57780/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that all businesses are regulated in some shape or form, for example through taxation, company law, employment law and so on. Sectoral regulators are often established to ensure specialised oversight, safety, and compliance within distinct sectors such as health, finance, energy, communications, etc., where general regulation may be insufficient to address complex, technical, or high-risk activities.

My Department does not have direct regulatory authority over clinical or aesthetic procedures within the beauty industry. However, via its agencies and remit, the Department plays a supportive role through enterprise development, and in promoting standards, consumer protection, and occupational health and safety across enterprise sectors.

For example, in 2019 the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) published the first European Standard for Beauty Salon Services – requirements and recommendations for the provision of service, I.S EN 17226. This is a voluntary standard setting out recommendations for the management of clients and their safety during beauty treatments to help salons compete, grow business, and improve service offerings. While NSAI plays a significant role in standardisation and certification, it does not function as a regulatory or enforcement body.

Consumer protection law in Ireland applies to any business that sells goods or services to consumers, including beauty salons and individual practitioners. These laws are designed to ensure that consumers are treated fairly, receive accurate information, and are protected from unsafe or misleading practices. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission can issue compliance notices, prohibition orders, and prosecute businesses that breach consumer law.

The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for enforcing Ireland’s Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, which applies to all workplaces, and therefore requires salon operators to provide a safe working environment for employees and clients covering risks such as chemical exposure, equipment use, hygiene standards, and ergonomic practices.

However, the regulation of clinical beauty procedures and enforcement of medicine-related laws are more appropriately addressed by the Department of Health and relevant authorities.