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LEGISLATION HAS BEEN introduced to ban tattoos and intimate piercings for people under the age of 18.
The Regulation and Intimate Piercing and Tattooing Bill 2018 has been brought forward by Fianna Fáil public health spokesperson Mary Butler TD.
It is the first statutory regulation of the body art industry in Ireland.
The bill aims to do three things:
“There has been a massive increase in the number of tattoo and piercing parlours across the country. However, there is no specific legislation in Ireland and in relation to the regulation of tattooing and body piercing businesses,” Butler said.
Bulter noted that her own husband is a “tattoo enthusiast” and she understands that “getting a tattoo is a lifelong decision”.
Setting an age limit of 18 years legislates for what is best in sector practice and targets rogue operators, Butler claimed.
“Intimate body piercing for children has been banned in Wales amid fears it can lead to health issues and make young people vulnerable to abuse,” she said.
“Under our bill, practitioners are not allowed to carry out or arrange piercings including to the tongue and breasts on anyone under 18,” she added.
Ears, noses, navels and eyebrows are not covered by the legislation.
“Despite the fact that tattoos have exploded in popularity over the past decade, the government has failed to keep pace and ensure strong health and safety standards,” Butler said.
“We also need to ensure high health and safety standards amongst operators.
The risks associated with tattooing and body piercing can range from acute infections to allergic reactions and can occur when the piercing or tattooing equipment becomes contaminated.
“I have met with representatives from the sector in relation to this bill and the majority of tattoo and piercing parlours operate to high standards and welcome regulation that will remove rogue operators,” she said.
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I would have assumed these were already over 18′s..
@Ian McKinney: Not sure about piercings but definitely thought tattoos where over 18.
@Sean Murnin @Ian McKinney: For tattoos or piercings, there has been no legislation for ages in this country, until now it would seem. However, any REPUTABLE tattoo / piercing parlour would never tattoo anyone under that age anyway, even with parental consent. Some won’t even do it till a person is 21 I believe. The industry has been self policing this for years.
@Ian McKinney: Assume Nothing nowadays..
@Ian McKinney: my daughter went in to a we’ll know tattoo parlor for ear piercings and couldn’t get them because she was 17. I think it’s on their own judgement. Let’s hope she has to think twice about tattoos too until shes sure.
@Ian McKinney: no legally but in practice they are
I mean we all know this is a very pressing issue and that the time needed to debate, pass and ratify this legislation should DEFINITELY take priority over legislation on public hospital waiting lists, exorbitant private consultant fees, and the all round failure of our health service to provide for the public!
Let’s all remember that the courageous Fianna Fáil spokesperson for health spent her time fighting for this important issue when the next general election comes round…
@Mack: it is possible to be concerned about more than one issue at a time.
@EillieEs:
Correct. And it is also possible to waste time on an issue of no importance while ignoring other more important issues.
Can you show me some examples of Butler doing anything about the important issues, seeing as you believe she cares about both?
@Mack: how do you legislate for hospital waiting lists. That’s not a government problem or own that will be solved by laws. It’s organisation and administration changes that are needed!
I remember when Zayn left One Direction it immediately rendered my full back tattoo of the five of them ridiculous.
@David McShite: Zayn will always be part of One Direction as far as I’m concerned. I got a neck tattoo to that effect when I heard he was leaving the band
@Tweety McTweeter: At least you can grow a beard, I’ll have to wait till 60 when the back hair covers it up.
@David McShite: I`ll swap you for a full back tattoo of the original Beatles if you like, I`ll be in Blackrock market next Saturday @ 2 o`clock
@Pixie McMullen: Done!
It’ll be like that movie Faceoff only with backs.
@David McShite: Never said it was mine mate, but you`re on :-)…… See you Saturday
@Pixie McMullen: Blackrock in Cork City, County Dublin or County Louth ?
Close the Dail bar. Ban alcohol drink at State Receptions, no more “Pint” photoshoots with visiting Dignitaries.
@John Declan: how would that help?
Thought it always was over 18 for these. I’m 34 and when I was a teen it definitely was 18 + for tattoo or some piercings. When did that law change??
@Sam Glynn: I think it was always individual artists or businesses who enforced that.
@EillieEs: they always told us it was illegal and we were just trying to get belly button piercings lol
Absolutely would agree!!
Or they could bring in a bill to overhaul our judicial system. legalise marijuana and generate millions in taxes which would free up courts and get judges to jail real criminals with real sentences and not the Mickey Mouse sentences they give out now for violent crimes and sexual abuse if they serve jail time at all. The priorities of the government sickens me to the core. Worried about tattoos and piercings holy f[]ck it’s backwards we’re going!
What about muff piercings?
@Desmond Lyons: Do you have yours done Des?
@David McShite: just my sister and my mother’s!
@Desmond Lyons: No exemptions for Donegal…
Because this is the height of our problems…. Priorities guys!!
Shouldn’t that be for the parents to decide? Instead of banning it, make it so that parent consent is required.
@B9xiRspG: Some parents can’t be trusted and consent can be easily forged
@B9xiRspG: some parents are ok with it, my friend went with her 16 year old son when he got the same tattoo as what David Beckham has on his back, it was very irresponsible of her. Majority of tattoos people want removed were done in their teens or early 20′s.
Is there anything there not planning to ban. We’re turning into a nanny state.
The under 18′s will be massing outside tattoo parlours as we speak before this ban kicks in. Good grief get a life as someone in a previous comment, do something constructive as I’m housing, health building safe schools etc etc
80% of tattoo artists refuse to put ink on anyone under 18. The other 20% are idiots. As for piercings, all you need is a parent or guardian to sign a consent form and you can get anything pierced at any age.
Reputable Tattooist will refuse certain clients if they’re too young/unhealthy etc. I actually saw a Tattooist refuse to put a giant rose on someone’s neck (person was in their late 20s) before because it was their first tattoo.
It’s already a non-issue with legitimate artists, it’s only in dodgy places it’s a problem.
I mean, you have to pass a full health check before you gat anything done these days by a piercer/tattooist!!
Who in their right mind would pierce any intimate part of anyone under 18? You’d end up on the register!
And yet they can get their bits chopped off if they claim they are trans
searches staute book for tattoo nothing! (for humans) http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/ResultsAll.html?q=tattoo&search_type=all
have your say