Letters to the Editor: Dental Council is toothless in investigation

We have a public dental service which is now third-rate in structure and delivery. File picture: Rui Vieira/PA

As former members of the Dental Council we were very upset to learn from the RTÉ Prime Time programme (September 7) that the Dental Council is not itself in a position to act effectively against the alleged illegal practice of dentistry and other allegations regarding an alleged sex-offender practicing in Ireland and matters involving faceless companies delivering dental services.

It appears that the public may now find itself unprotected because of perceived limitations in the 1985 Dentists Act, the legislation underpinning the role of Dental Council in the protection of the public and the regulation of dental practice and the dental profession in Ireland.