Engaging with members is a top priority for new President, Dr Rory Boyd, who took over as President of the Association from Dr Eamon Croke at the AGM which took place in the RCSI last Thursday.

Click here to read Rory’s speech to the AGM. Outgoing GP Committee chair, Dr Will Rymer, was also appointed as President-Elect, to follow Rory and to take over as President in 2025.

Dr Eamon Croke provided a wide-ranging overview of a highly successful and busy year as President in his valedictory address to the AGM. In his report to the meeting, IDA CEO, Mr Fintan Hourihan, set out three priorities for the year ahead.

Firstly, we must look to the future and the rapidly changing needs of our members, especially younger and early career dentists. Secondly, we must be ready to engage with the state at a time of momentous change as the roll-out of Smile agus Slainte begins. Thirdly, we must continue to prize independent dental practice while simultaneously campaigning to rebuild our public dental service. You can read his full address here.

The AGM also adopted a number of motions following passionate debate. They included a call for urgent action to progress the construction of a new dental school in Cork and a call on the Government to provide significant investment and resources to support both dental schools’ undergraduate programmes. This funding is needed to ensure acceptable workforce personnel / models for current and future expected needs.

In light of the recent IDA publication titled “Towards Sustainable National Oral Health Services” and the proposal for a new oral health reform oversight group and implementation group, and the continuing failure and refusal by the Department of Health to agree a mutually established Framework Agreement, the AGM directed the IDA not to participate in any formal discussions until the Department demonstrates its bona fides to put such arrangements in place.

On the fifth anniversary of the publication of the National Oral Health Policy ‘Smile Agus Slainte’ which envisions major changes for the public dental service, our patients and our members, the AGM agreed to call on the Department of Health and the HSE to meaningfully engage with the Irish Dental Association regarding the future of the service.