The President of the Garda Representative Association has called on An Garda Síochána to review its uniform and dress policy after three garda trainees were sent home from Templemore garda training college and told to get their get tattoos removed.
The trainees were told that the tattoos did not comply with the dress and uniform code.
They were part of 175 recruits that arrived for induction on 31 July.
Gardaí confirmed that the three recruits had their positions deferred "pending their compliance with the uniform and dress code within An Garda Síochána".
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said the uniform and dress code states that facial Tattoos, or Tattoos that are visible above the collar of the Garda uniform are not allowed.
The code also states that: "All other tattoos will be covered at all times while on duty, whether in uniform or plain clothes."
GRA President Brendan O'Connor said that he was aware that one of the three cases involved a small discreet tattoo of a star behind the ear, which he said could be covered up with make-up if it was found not to comply.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Philip Boucher Hayes, he said that a time when the Garda Commissioner is struggling to fill seats in Templemore, to get people through the system who are deemed suitable and then parting with them due to an element of self-expression appeared to be a subjective interpretation of these regulations.
Mr O'Connor called on gardaí to find a code that was more agile and reflective of the wider social values, that should be reflected in An Garda Síochána, not the conservative rules of previous generations of the organisation.
He described the issue as complicated and nuanced, as you have to have a code, but certainly times and attitudes changed and this "is a little but conservative".
"At a time when we need to reach out beyond where we traditionally may have looked for recruits and be more imaginative, inclusive and diverse to socially acceptable things be excluded from the training programme does seem to raise some questions," he said.
He added that tattoos and body art are very much part of the culture of every age group, are common and do not come with the negative connotations that some people attribute to them.
"Perhaps this policy is slightly out of step and is robbing the organisation of three people with the potential to be excellent guards and serve their communities well," Mr O’Connor said.
