Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Two rounds of discussions have been held with the Irish Dental Association, the most recent of which was on 17 December, when the Department and the HSE outlined provisional proposals to invest additional resources to the scheme, including €10 million provided in the budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million. The Department is anxious to move the process on in the interest of patients and hopes to meet the Irish Dental Association shortly to try to progress matters.

Deputy Patricia Ryan raised the issue of when Covid payments would be made. The HSE is operationalising and working on the payment of the recognition payment to the workers.

Deputy Connolly raised the Women of Honour group which I met yesterday. There were other groups of women serving in the Army and in the Defence Forces that met with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, as well as other representative organisations. They may have slightly different perspectives on the independent review that has been announced. I had a relatively lengthy discussion yesterday with the Women of Honour group.

It is independent in the first instance. It is an independent judge with assistance from a senior counsel and also Ms Jane Williams, who has a very good record from a human resource perspective. The discussion ranged over a number of issues. Importantly, if we go back over a number of statutory inquiries that were held, the better ones benefited from scoping work that was done in advance. We have not ruled out a statutory inquiry.

It is important the Minister has an obligation to make sure the current situation is optimal for the protection of Defence Forces personnel right now. This review can come up with valuable recommendations in that regard.

In response to Deputy Colm Burke, I would support the proposal on the establishment of this high-level working group. I will discuss the primary healthcare and community care high-level group with the Minister.

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