The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Dental Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise current and future cooperation between both organisations.

The MoU was signed by Angela Fitzgerald, CEO of HIQA, and David O’Flynn, Registrar of the Dental Council. The MoU is the first of its kind between the two organisations and aims to provide a mechanism to to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency when performing their respective statutory functions. The MoU also intends to promote cooperation and consultation on mutual areas of strategic and operational interest; ensure collaboration on initiatives within each party’s statutory remit; and raise awareness with users of health and social care services and the general public on the statutory functions of HIQA and the Dental Council.

Welcoming the initiative, David O’Flynn, Registrar of the Dental Council said: “I am very happy to sign this MoU with HIQA today. It is essential that public sector organisations collaborate together mutually important matters as this helps protect the public. I welcome this agreement and it strengthens the working relationship between HIQA and the Dental Council.”

Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Angela Fitzgerald, CEO of HIQA said: “I am delighted to welcome this MoU to strengthen our relationship with the Dental Council. We hope that increased cooperation between us will support improved health and social care services for the benefit of people using services, and in the interest of service-user safety and public protection.”

The full text of the MoU is available on the websites of both organisations: www.dentalcouncil.ie and www.hiqa.ie. 

ENDS

Further information:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, mwhelan@hiqa.ie, 085 805 5202

HIQA is the independent competent authority for medical exposures to ionising radiation, inspecting and providing guidance to dental services providing medical exposures to ionising radiation.