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  2. About us
  3. Our structure
  4. Representative committees
  5. General Dental Practice
  6. Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee

It is recognised by government as having the status and authority to negotiate on behalf of all Health Service (HS) GDPs on matters of terms and conditions of service, contracts, and remuneration in the General Dental Services (GDS).

Our priorities

  • Representing the interests, and acting on behalf of all GDPs in Northern Ireland
  • Negotiating with government on terms and conditions and remuneration for GDPs
  • Formulating policy positions on issues that impact GDPs, including regulation of dental practice, increasing costs of running a dental practice, and negotiations towards a new GDS contract
  • Ensuring that the views of GDPs are represented when it comes to health policy being developed by government and other key organisations
  • Acting as a channel of communication between the BDA and GDPs.

Our team

Chair NIDPC Belfast/South Eastern HSCT

Ciara Gallagher

Ciara Gallagher is Chair of NIDPC for the 2022-25 triennium. Ciara qualified as a dentist from the University of Birmingham in 1996, working in Nottingham and Birmingham for two years before coming home to NI. She is now the sole owner of a seven-surgery dental practice in Downpatrick, where family NHS dentistry and high-quality private implant and cosmetic dentistry sit comfortably side by side. Having worked in NHS dentistry for more than twenty years Ciara has felt first-hand the rising pressures of providing quality NHS care under an increasingly pinched budget.
Ciara Gallaghe
Vice-Chair NIDPC Belfast/South Eastern HSCT

Philip McLorinan

Philip McLorinan is one of two vice chairs for NIDPC in the 2022-25 triennium. A Practice owner since 2004, Philip is also a part time Special Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry at the School of Dentistry and an examiner for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses. Philip is active within the NI Branch serving as Hon. Social Secretary and will be President 22-23. He received a BDA Award in 2021.
Philip McLorinan
Joint Vice-Chair

Helen Brogan

Helen is an Associate dentist working in the Northern Trust area in two predominantly health service practices. Helen is currently the Secretary of the Northern Area Local Dental Committee and has held this position since October 2017. She first qualified in 2015 and have been working in general practice since.
Helen Brogan

General Dental Services Levy Fund

BDA members receive a subsistence allowance where appropriate and have their travel costs reimbursed. The Northern Ireland General Dental Services Levy Fund pays dentists sessional rates for time away on committee business. See British Dental Guild Rate for information.

Get involved and get in touch

Members are elected on a constituency basis for a three-year period and the current triennium runs from 2022 - 2025. NIDPC is always keen to ensure that the views of GDPs are represented when it comes to health policy being developed by government. NIDPC are here to represent you and encourage you to get involved in BDA activity. The NIDPC can be contacted via email: northernIrelandoffice@bda.org