Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Dentists Act 1985 needs to be updated as a matter of urgency. This was confirmed by the Dental Council of Ireland in its most recent submission to the Minister for Health. In October 2021, the council highlighted the fact the Act is not fit for purpose, citing certain omissions and weaknesses. While I understand updating this legislation could be a lengthy process, I am calling on the Taoiseach to expedite, with immediate effect, a revision of sections 38 and 44 of the Dentists Act 1985. We must legislate so that specialist dental practitioners such as specialist orthodontists who are deemed unfit to practice on the grounds of incapacity are not held accountable for patient care or the transfer of patient care. In such circumstances, it should be the role and the responsibility of the Dental Council of Ireland to support member practitioners and their patients to transfer and manage continued patient care. Will the Government agree to update this legislation as a matter of urgency so that the Dental Council of Ireland will have the power to carry out this function?

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