Dr. Dympna Kavanagh:

I will make one final point in that regard. There is a distinct difference regarding engaging with dentists. I appreciate and understand that there may be some confusion but there is absolutely engagement directly with the profession. It is important to note that we got a mass of responses when we contacted 5,000 registrants twice and when we had a year-long structured engagement via structured interviews with a particular sample across a wide range of dentists. They engaged in three-hour interviews and we got a massive amount of consultation from that process. I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from with regard to the Irish Dental Association, but I have to stand firm and say there was in-depth consultation directly with the dentists on the ground as well as with the public. When one looks at any of the other policies that have been produced, the engagement directly with the dentists was extremely comprehensive in comparison. I hope I will be supported in that regard. There was a great deal of other consultation that was carried out separately with the academic reference groups and a separate practitioners' group. I want to ensure that is made very plain and clear.