Minister says rules around gardaí having tattoos should be relaxed

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said whether a garda has a tattoo or not would not be a priority of concern for people who want to see more Garda numbers. 

The rules around gardaí having tattoos should be relaxed to help with the recruitment and retention crisis within the force, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has said.

It has emerged that three trainee officers were sent home from Templemore training college because their tattoos did not comply with the Garda handbook on uniform and dress code within the force.