Media Coverage
Media Coverage
A selection of IDA’s recent media coverage and coverage of oral health issues:
Annual Conference 2025 Media Coverage
Dr Will Rymer interviewed on RTE Radio’s Drivetime
RTE News Coverage of IDA Annual Conference
Dr Bridget Harrington-Barry interviewed on Newstalk’s Hard Shoulder
Dr Mairead Browne interviewed on Pat Kenny Newstalk
Irish Independent – Patients put at risk as dentists sanctioned abroad are allowed to practice in Ireland
Irish Examiner – Dentists warn of ‘clear divide’ between people accessing private dentistry and those in public care
Irish Times – Fixing problems after dental treatment in Turkey can cost Irish patients €40,000, says Irish Dental Association
Irish Examiner – Register of approved practitioners offering botox and fillers to be established
2024 Media Coverage
Red FM – Fintan Hourihan Interviewed
The Echo – ‘Mass exodus’ of dentists in Cork with system ‘on the brink of collapse’
RTÉ Radio Claire Byrne – Dr Sarah Edgar interviewed
Pat Kenny Newstalk – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed
Irish Independent – Revealed: Counties and areas with fewest dentists for patients with medical cards
Irish Examiner opinion editorial – Dropping Dental Plans Misguided
Irish Examiner – Decision to drop Cork dental school plans ‘profoundly worrying’
Irish Examiner – ‘I routinely take out 20 teeth for two-year-old children’: Dentists warn of decay from sugary drinks
Irish Independent – Dentists offer extra clinics to help treat medical card holders
Irish Times – Regulator ‘unable to act’ over dentist with sexual assault conviction
Sunday Times – Ban Vape Shops Opening Near Schools
Irish Examiner – Parents urged to raise school dental scheme delays with politicians on doorsteps
Irish Examiner – ‘Inappropriate’ Botox procedures leave young women ‘looking older than 40’
Irish Independent – Longer-lasting Botox on the way as dentist warns against ‘wild west’ injection treatments from unlicensed operators
RTÉ News – 100k children denied dental screening last year – IDA
The Last Word – Dr Will Rymer interviewed about children missing school dental screening (8mins)
RTÉ Radio Morning Ireland – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about children missing dental screening last year
Newstalk Breakfast – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about children missing dental screening last year
Irish Independent – Over 100,000 children missed out on school dental checks last year
Irish Examiner – More than 100k children denied school screening dental appointments
Irish Times – Over 100,000 children ‘denied’ school dental screening appointments last year
Thejournal.ie – ‘There’s no accountability’: Leading dentist warns about use of unlicensed botox products
2023 Media Coverage
July 10 – Today with Claire Byrne – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about children’s dental delays
July 6 – Newstalk Pat Kenny Show – Fintan Hourihan discusses the dentist shortage
July 6 – Irish Independent – Dental treatment and adequate childcare are two areas record tax returns could easily help
July 6 – Irish Independent – Schoolchildren face 10-year delay for dental treatment under HSE-run scheme
July 6 – Irish Examiner – More dentists badly needed
July 5 – Irish Examiner – Less than half of eligible children seen on schedule under State’s school dental plan
July 5 – RTÉ – Nearly 500 more dentists needed to meet demand – IDA
June 24 – Irish Times – ‘Life-altering side effects’: when medical and cosmetic treatments abroad go wrong
June 21 – RTÉ Six One News – President Dr Eamon Croke interviewed about new places for dental students
June 21 – RTÉ – Capacity for more medical, veterinary training places – HEA
June 19 – Newstalk The Hard Shoulder – Dr Will Rymer interviewed about dental tourism
May 15 – Irish Times – At least 50,000 children missing out on dental checks due to staff shortages
May 12 – RTÉ Six One News – Dr Caroline Robins and Dr Rory Boyd discuss patient waiting lists and advances in dentistry
May 12 – The Last Word – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about oral healthcare crisis
May 12 – Morning Ireland – Dr Will Rymer interviewed about the access problems for patients
May 12 – Newstalk’s Breakfast Briefing – Fintan Hourihan interviewed (at 13:35)
May 12 – Radió na Gaeltachta – Dr Marcas Mac Domhnaill discusses staffing crisis in dentistry
May 12 – Irish Times – Dentists pass vote of no confidence in Minister for Health
May 12 – Irish Independent – Dentist shortage leaves many patients waiting over three months for routine appointment
May 12 – Irish Examiner – Dentists vote no confidence in Donnelly amid frustration over ‘crumbling’ system
May 12 – thejournal.ie – Dentists pass no confidence vote in Donnelly as one in six wait three months for appointment
May 12 – Irish Independent – Around 200,000 people have dental phobia and are terrified of getting teeth fixed, ‘calming dentist’ says
May 12 – RTÉ – One in six wait over three months for dental appointment – survey
March 3 – RTÉ News – Dr Gillian Smith interviewed about the staffing crisis in dentistry
February 22 – Today with Claire Byrne – Dr Will Rymer discuss delays in treatment for primary-school children and the dental medical card scheme
February 22 – Irish Independent – Primary-school children facing 10-year wait for dental treatment
February 22 – RTÉ – Long delays in dental disease screening for children
February 9 – Newstalk Moncrieff Show – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about the staffing crisis in dentistry
February 7- Irish Examiner Opinion Editorial – Staffing crisis: Challenges of a century still haunting dentistry in Ireland
January 20 – Irish Independent – Time for talking is long over as shortage of dentists sends Ireland closer to crisis point
January 19 – Newstalk Lunchtime Live – Fintan Hourihan interviewed regarding public dental service.
2022 Media Coverage
November 16 – Irish Independent – Number of dentists taking medical card patients collapsing as scheme is ‘unfit for purpose’
November 16 – The Tonight Show, Virgin Media – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about medical card dental scheme and dental tourism
November 15 – Today with Claire Byrne – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about dental tourism
November 15 – Irish Independent – ‘I had a patient who lost all her teeth after treatment in Turkey’ – Irish Dental Association chief warns against trips abroad
November 3 – Irish Independent – Dental programme being delivered to our children falls way short of what is needed
October 31 – RTE Six One News and Nine O’Clock News – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about the DTSS crisis
October 31 – RTE Radio News at One – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about the DTSS crisis
October 31 – RTE – Fewer dentists offering services to treatment scheme
October 14 – Irish Independent – Professional firms may be included in state subsidy scheme to help pay businesses winter fuel bills
October 13 – Irish Times – Scheme to support businesses with rising energy costs looks set to be extended to businesses such as GPs, solicitors and dentists
October 13 – Irish Times – Some children are waiting up to 10 years to see a dentist
October 13 – Irish Examiner – Parts of Ireland have 10-year backlog in child dental treatments
October 13 – Irish Independent – Children waiting for up to 10 years for first check-up with HSE’s school dental service
October 13 – RTE Website – School dental services ‘virtually non-existent’
October 13 – Newstalk Breakfast – IDA CEO interviewed about the school screening service
October 13 – Morning Ireland – Concerns over dental care being provided to children
October 7 – The Pat Kenny Show Newstalk – Fintan Hourihan interviewed re dentists exclusion from busines energy scheme
October 4 – Irish Examiner – Dental schools starved of funding
September 27 – Clare FM – IDA Chief Executive interviewed about medical card crisis in Clare
September 22 – Irish Examiner – Medical card holders ‘missing out on dental care’ as dentists leave scheme
September 21 – Irish Examiner – ‘Trip to the dentist saved my life’: Limerick farmer speaks out about mouth cancer diagnosis
September 21 – Irish Independent – ‘A trip to the dentist saved my life’ – how rare dental trip for a broken tooth led to discovery of tumour under tongue
August 2 – Drogheda Independent – Louth TD slams dental services as second year students still awaiting sixth class check-up
July 8 – Irish Independent – Experts urge caution as many patients seek overseas dental treatments to save on cost
July 8 – KCLR FM – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed re cost of dentistry (8mins30secs)
July 7 – The Pat Kenny Show Newstalk – Fintan Hourihan interviewed re cost of dentistry and lack of state support
June 14 – The Pat Kenny Show Newstalk – Fintan Hourihan interviewed re exodus of dentists from DTSS
June 13 – thejournal.ie – Exodus of dentists from medical card scheme leaving vulnerable households without dental care
June 10 – Limerick Today FM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about improving access to oral healthcare
June 7 – Irish Examiner – Almost 70,000 children miss out on State dental appointments
May 13 – Today with Claire Byrne – Drs Jennifer Collins & Gillian Smith interviewed dental care for autistic patients
May 12 – Galway Bay FM – Dr Caroline Robins outlines her priorities as President (Part 1) and (Part 2)
May 12 – RTE News – Dentists call for Government intervention to help recruitment
May 12 – Newstalk Breakfast briefing – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about dental staffing crisis & DTSS
May 4 – C103 FM – Dr Mairead Browne interviewed about the DTSS crisis
April 2 – Newstalk Down to Busines – Industry review of the dental sector with President Elect Dr Caroline Robins
March 28 – Irish Independent – Boy (11) endures agonising wait for HSE dental treatment
March 20 – Ireland AM – Dr Gillian Smith discusses oral health tips for children
March 7 – Irish Independent – Nearly 3,000 children awaiting dental surgery amid rise in tooth decay
March 7 – Irish Independent – Medical card holders face postcode lottery for dentists amid mass exodus from State scheme
March 7 – Irish Independent – Dental tourists warned of potential pitfalls as numbers flying out on the rise again
March 3 – The Echo – Cork dentist: It’s time to fix failings in public dental care
February 21 – RTE Morning Ireland – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about the DTSS crisis and a new approach
February 21 – Irish Independent – Patients with medical cards should get up to €500 in vouchers for dentistry, says report
February 21 – RTE website – Dentists call for voucher scheme to replace medical cards
February 21 – thejournal.ie – Calls for dental vouchers to replace medical cards as dentists warn scheme nears ‘total collapse’
February 21 – Midwest Radio – Dentists say the medical card scheme is nearing “total collapse”
January 22 – Irish Examiner – Sharp drop in dentists on medical card holder scheme
January 13 – Daily Mail (ROI) – COVID delays dental checks for 100,000 school children
January 8 – Irish Times Health Supplement – GP Committee Vice Chair, Dr Kieran O’Conor, talks about the impact of the pandemic on teeth and oral health.
January 3 – Live FM – Lack of dentists not just a Limerick issue
2021 Media Coverage
December 8 – Irish Examiner – More than 13,200 children waiting for urgent orthodontic treatment
December 4 – Irish Examiner – Medical card holders travelling ‘unprecedented distances’ to access dental treatment
December 3 – Drogeha Life – Louth Dental Care Survey indicates system in ruins
November 24 – Irish Independent – Tralee dentist is the most caring in Ireland
November 11 – Irish Examiner – Laws to allow medical negligence cases to be settled pre-court urged
November 11 – Irish Independent – Medical groups propose plan to cut costs and wait times in lawsuits for negligence
October 18 – KFM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed on KFM
October 18 – Radio na Gaeltachta – Dr Anne O’Neill interviewed on Radio na Gaeltachta Adhmhaidin (at 39 minutes)
October 17 – RTE Radio – Fintan Hourihan interviewed on RTE Radio This Week
October 17 – RTE website – ‘Mass withdrawal’ of dentists from medical card scheme
October 15 – Irish Independent – Labour leader Alan Kelly says many people are being forced to travel long distances to get dental treatment to which they are entitled
October 14 – Irish Times – Dentists ‘astonished’ by lack of detail in plan to improve access to care
July 13 – RTE Drivetime – Dr Anne O’Neill interviewed about the children’s dental service
May 27 – C103FM – Dr Anne O’Neill interviewed about social media influencers and dentistry
May 27 – Irish Mirror – Tik care with your teeth, teens warned
May 26 – Newstalk Breakfast – Dr Caroline Robbins interviewed about cosmetic dentistry and social media influencers
May 26 – Galway Bay FM – Dr Caroline Robbins interviewed about social media influencers and dentistry
May 20 – LMFM – Dr Caroline Robbins interviewed about the drop in dentists participating in the DTSS
May 16 – RTE Radio This Week – Hundreds of dentists stop treating medical card patients
May 8 – RTE Online – Asking dentists to vaccinate would impact dental care – IDA
May 8 – Irish Times – Donnelly ‘concerned’ over drop in dentists in medical card scheme
May 8 – Irish Independent – Warning children will lose teeth for life as public dentists redeployed to Covid vaccine duties
May 8 – Irish Examiner – Stephen Donnelly promises ‘root and branch’ review of medical card dental scheme
May 8 – thejournal.ie – Moving dentists to vaccination programme will cause ‘irreparable damage’ to children, says IDA
April 16 – Irish MIrror – Dentist claims hypnosis can be used as part of normal dental treatment – to stop teeth grinding and manage anxiety
April 16 – Irish Examiner – Smile, you’re on Zoom: why more people are taking a second look at their teeth
April 16 – Radio Kerry – Dr Mike Gow interviewed about dental hypnosis
April 15 – RTE Drivetime – Dr Mike Gow interviewed about the use of hypnosis in dentistry
April 13 – Irish Times – Dentists report surge in teeth grinding and cracking due to pandemic stress
April 9 – RTE Drivetime – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about DTSS crisis
April 9 – Pat Kenny Newstalk – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about DTSS crisis
April 9 – Clare FM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about DTSS crisis
April 8 – Irish Times – Dental treatment scheme ‘on brink of collapse’
April 8 – Irish Examiner – Dentists call for ‘new approach’ to care for medical card holders
April 8 – Irish Independent – Young medical card dental patients are losing teeth early in an ‘unequal system’
April 8 – thejournal.ie – ‘Use it or lose it’ vouchers should be considered for lower income groups’ dental needs, says dentists
April 7 – Irish Independent – Dentists to warn that medical card dental scheme is on ‘brink of collapse’
April 5 – Irish Independent – Cracked teeth and jaw pain: How pandemic stress has us clenching our teeth – and what we can do to fix it
March 29 – RTE Radio Drivetime – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about the rise in certain dental procedures during the pandemic
March 29 – Daily Mail – Working from home at the root of surge in cosmetic dental work
March 29 – The Times – Cosmetic dental work ‘off richter scale since everyone is using Zoom’
March 28 – Irish Independent – ‘Zoom has a lot to answer for’ – cosmetic dental work ‘off the Richter scale’ since onset of Covid
Feb 27 – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed on RTE television news about delays in vaccinating dentists (at 9 minutes)
Feb 24 – KCLR – Dr Caroline Robbins interviewed re DTSS crisis
Feb 22 – RTÉ News at One – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about DTSS crisis and vaccincations
Feb 22 – Newstalk Breakfast Briefing – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about DTSS crisis
Feb 22 – Galway Bay FM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed on DTSS crisis
Feb 22 – Irish Times – Dental scheme for medical card patients in ‘complete chaos’
Feb 22 – Irish Independent – Dental treatment for medical card holders ‘in complete chaos’
Feb 22 – Irish Examiner – Dental treatment for medical card holders ‘in complete chaos’
Feb 22 – Thejournal.ie – Dental treatment for medical card holders in ‘complete chaos’, industry body says
Feb 22 – RTÉ website – Dental scheme for medical card holders ‘on brink of collapse’ – IDA
Feb 16 – Live 95 Limerick Today – Fintan Hourihan interviewed by Joe Nash
Feb 13 – Irish Examiner – Tenerife dental practice prepares list of Irish no-shows for gardaí
Jan 29 – RTE News – 161,500 vaccine doses administered, dentists may help with roll-out
Jan 21 – Today FM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed by Matt Cooper
Jan 12 – Today with Claire Byrne – Dr Anne O’Neill interviewed about PPE and lack of engagment by Department of Health
Jan 6 – Irish Times – Covid crisis: No State aid for dentists causing concern in profession
Jan 6 – Irish Indepdendent – Dentists warn lack of Government support will affect patients
2020 Media Coverage
Nov 5th – Newstalk Pat Kenny – Fintan Hourihan interviewed
Nov 2nd – Irish Examiner – Dentists leaving government scheme in their droves, figures show
Nov 2nd – thejournal.ie – More than 260 dentists no longer providing services to medical card holders after leaving scheme
Nov 1st – Irish Independent – Warning over treatment crisis as dentists quit care scheme ‘in their droves’
Nov 1st – Sunday Word – Warning over treatment crisis as dentists quit care scheme ‘in their droves’
October 26th – Irish Examiner – More than 1,500 children waiting for dental extractions
September 25th – Irish Examiner – ‘Full-blown’ dentistry crisis with staff redeployed to Covid testing
August 10th – Irish Mirror – Medical card holders face ‘delays while seeking treatment’ for dental care
July 9th – Irish Times – Mouth cancers going undiagnosed during Covid-19 crisis, dentists warn
June 29th – Newstalk – Dr Caroline Robins interviewed about dentistry post-Covid
June 24th – Midlands 103FM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about dentists charging for PPE
June 22nd – LMFM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about dentists charging for PPE
June 22nd – Tipp FM – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about dentists charging for PPE
June 15th – KCLR – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about dentists charging for PPE
June 15th – Radio Kerry – Fintan Hourihan interviewed about dentists charging for PPE
June 15th – Irish Times – Coronavirus lockdown eating habits take dental toll
June 3rd – Newstalk Breakfast – Dr Kieran O’Connor interviewed
May 19th – Irish Independent – Precautions: Dentists adjust to new way of doing business
May 18th – RTE Claire Byrne Live – Dr Gillian Smith interviewed about return to routine dentistry (16 minutes)
May 18th – RTE Radio Today with Sarah McInerney – Dr Kieran O’Connor interviewed about dentists returning to work
May 18th – Cork 96FM – Dr Kieran O’Connor interviewed about dentists returning to work
May 15th – Irish Times – Dentists adhering to new guidance can open next week
May 14th – RTE Six One News – Dentists and PPE
May 13th – RTE Radio Live Line – CEO Fintan Hourihan discusses PPE for dentists and other issues
May 12th – RTE website – Dentists awaiting ‘clear direction’ over safeguards
May 12th – RTE Radio Today with Sarah McInerney – CEO Fintan Hourihan interviewed about Covid-19: Dentists re-opening
May 10th – Sunday Independent – Lifting the lid on new Covid-19 waiting lists
May 8th – Newstalk Radio – Dentists ask Government for ‘urgent assistance’ to deal with Covid-19
May 5th – Irish Independent – Dentists fear lockdown poses ‘grave threat to nation’s oral health’
May 5th – The Times – Dentists warn risk of collapse is threat to nation’s health
May 5th – thejournal.ie – Majority of dentists fear Covid-19 poses high risk to ‘sustainability’ of their practice
April 29th – RTE Radio News at One – Dental surgery impacted by COVID-19
April 27th – Vice President, Dr Anne O’Neill, interviewed by Radio na Gaeltachta
April 26th – Rte Radio This Week, CEO Fintan Hourihan discussing the financial crisis facing the sector
April 17th – Irish Examiner – In the teeth of a crisis: Pandemic leaves dentists struggling to deliver a service
April 7th – Newstalk with Ivan Yates – Prof. Stassen discussing emergency dental care
April 7th – Irish Times Dentists want designated centres for emergency care
April 2nd – Irish Indpendent – IDA urges Social Protection to expand the pandemic payment scheme to dentists who are still providing emergency care.
March 25th – RTÉ – News at One – Chief Executive, Mr. Fintan Hourihan speaks to News at One
March 23rd – Irish Examiner – Need for dental emergency centres
March 19th – Newstalk – Dentist practices on the brink of collapse
March 19th – Today FM with Matt Cooper – Dr Eamon Croke talks to Matt Cooper
March 18th – Irish Independent – Dental profession in Ireland on the brink of collapse
March 16th – RTÉ drivetime – Chief Executive, Mr. Fintan Hourihan talks to Mary Wilson
Jan 26th – Newstalk – Chief Executive Fintan Hourihan interviewed about IDA election manifesto
Jan 20th – Irish Times – Government plan to give free dental care to under-16s ‘unrealistic’