Mr. David O'Flynn:

I have some information from the register of dentists that might enlighten the committee's consideration of this matter. Most of the dentists who graduate in Ireland register with the Irish Dental Council, which indicates that they are willing and ready to practise here. Of the 90 graduates each year, there are always a number who are from outside the European Union and who may return home. We register between 70 and 80 dentists each year. The vast majority of dentists trained in Ireland register here, with a small number going abroad. Among the people restoring their names to the register or applying for registration for the first time, the number of returning Irish graduates tends to be small. It seems to be the case that Irish graduates tend to stay here and do not move abroad. That is a recent trend. Going back ten or 15 years, things would have been different, but that seems to be the trend now.