Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thought Deputy Kelleher would be getting the first slot. I join the Chairman in welcoming the representatives from the Dental Council of Ireland and I thank Dr. Croke for his comprehensive address to the committee. I am encouraged by much of what Dr. Croke stated in terms of the importance of registration across the entire dental or dental-related team. That is vital.

I will not go down the cul-de-sac of previous engagements that this committee has had with other voices from within the dental profession. There is no benefit to that. Dr. Croke will have his view and others will have theirs and our role here as legislators is to inform the Minister and inform the elected representatives of the people of the importance of given measures in the public interest, and it is on the public interest that we are primarily focused.

I have a number of issues. The proposed dental Bill is long awaited. There is a frustration in this that no doubt is shared among us all. I note the position heretofore, as Dr. Croke's stated in his opening remarks that the primary function of the Dental Council of Ireland is to protect the public and ensure ethical behaviour for all its registrants. That is the critical point here, that the behaviour of those who are not registrants but who are presenting themselves as duly approved practitioners creates a situation where, apparently, the Dental Council of Ireland does not have a role in terms of enforcement. How do we address the situation where persons are not entitled to advertise the services that they offer and are neither properly qualified nor legally entitled to direct their services to the public? There are examples of this, some of which are high profile. Some have names with which we have become familiar in terms of an individual practising dentistry who is not registered with the Dental Council of Ireland and thereby is not an approved practitioner in this jurisdiction and, I understand certainly in one or more cases, not entitled to practice in any jurisdiction. It is a matter of how we bridge all of these issues in the intervening period.

Has the Dental Council of Ireland confidence that the proposed legislation will properly provide and does it see, as I read from what Dr. Croke stated here this morning, that the council should have enhanced powers of enforcement, oversight, etc., and that it would cover the critical areas, including dentists, orthodontists, hygienists, dental nurses, clinical dental technicians and dental technicians? It is critically important that all of these are properly registered. Registration is the key issue. Initially, one is talking in terms of dental technicians, of voluntary registration which would lead on the enactment of the proposed legislation to mandatory registration. That would be a pathway to overcome some of the existing dichotomies.

There have been instances of dental technicians dealing with the public. How, in the absence of the legislation, do we deal with the fact that there is evidence even of advertising by dental technicians who have no entitlement to so advertise their work? Their engagement and their direct line management is through properly qualified dental practitioners. They have no entitlement to engage with or service directly the public. How does the Dental Council of Ireland see that weakness being dealt with in the absence of legislation? Has it confidence that the proposed legislation will see that matter put to bed once and for all?

As matters stand in terms of the Dental Council of Ireland's powers, apparently over those only who are registered with it, how does it see the matter of those not registered with the council opening their doors and offering their so-called "skills" to the public? I refer to persons who, in other jurisdictions within the European Union and perhaps elsewhere, have been de-registered in their respective countries of origin where they have so-called "qualified". In this regard, we have heard members of the Irish public on the national radio. Although I am not a regular listener as it clashes with Dáil business, I am sure Joe Duffy has attended to it at some point in time. How do we collectively address the fact that there have been - I cannot say that there are but there have been - persons who were not properly entitled to present themselves as they did within the dental profession?

On the question of registration, I have concerns in regard to the proposed legislation that not all elements of the team of dental practitioners that I have mentioned earlier will be compelled to register. Can Dr. Croke tell me what he knows or, if there any fears in regard to the areas of dental practitioners, dentists, orthodontists and hygienists?

It is my understanding that there is some fear that it might be delisted, for want of a better word; I am speaking as a layperson here. That would be absolutely outrageous.

I have named some of the key areas and the witnesses could probably add to them. Are we on the one page that all the areas I have mentioned already and any others should have their respective registration lists and should all come under the council's oversight and control, as I would want it to be? I would appreciate any assurances or advices the witnesses could offer on how we might work together collectively to ensure the legislation is fit for purpose across the board.