Dr. Dympna Kavanagh:

I am glad the Chairman raised that. We met the professional group of Irish dental hygienists a few times. We are meeting them in July as well. They are a key part of the policy. We also met representatives of the Clinical Dental Technicians Association Ireland two weeks ago. These are the two key auxiliary groups under the new dental legislation that will be independent practitioners. A key issue for us is the opportunity for them to take on independent contracts if they so wish, and particularly when we devise packages of care, to look at the Dutch system in particular, which has embraced auxiliaries and therapists in this way, as well as other groups. That is exactly how the construct was and so we had a mind to the new dental legislation bringing in these independent practitioners. A concern was raised by the clinical dental technicians that this would be a backward step and we said it would absolutely not be such a step and the intention was to expand the scope of practice of auxiliaries where possible. We have been very clear about that in the policy. Where it can be expanded, it should be but in a way that is mindful of the benefits and risks, of which the Dental Council of Ireland, as a regulatory organisation, would be aware. These are two independent professions that we would see coming forward and that is extremely important to the policy and provision of care.