Vol. 530 No. 2
49 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to a report published in 1982 by the Restrictive Practices Commission into the statutory restrictions on the provision of dental prostheses, which states that the denial to dental mechanics of the right to provide dentures to the public under the Dentists Act, 1928 was by its nature a restrictive practice; and her views on the commission's report. [3512/01]
I am aware of the 1982 Restrictive Practices Commission report of inquiry into the statutory restrictions on the provision of dental prostheses which concluded that prohibiting the supply of dentures by non-dentists was a restrictive practice not justified by any advantages it might offer.
In order to deal with this restriction it is necessary, under the Dentists Act, 1985, for an appropriate scheme to be made by the Dental Council and to be approved by the Minister for Health and Children. I understand that consultations between the Department of Health and Children and the Dental Council relating to the preparation of such a scheme are in progress at present.
Having regard to the very lengthy period of time which has elapsed since the original RPC inquiry, I hope the matter will be brought to an early and satisfactory conclusion in the interests of competition and consumer welfare.
