Minutes of proceedings of the Plenary Meeting of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health held in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No 6 Kildare Street, 
Dublin 2 on Wednesday, 13th June 2007

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chair), Dr Wayne Anderson, Councillor Jack Bourke, Professor John Clarkson, Ms Hilary Coates, Mr Colm Keenan, Mr Michael Kilcoyne, Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Joe Mullen, Mr Darragh Page, Ms Martina Queally, Mr Rowland Reece, Dr Margaret Shannon

In attendance: 	Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Ms Patricia-Gilsenan-O’Neill, Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat

Apologies:	Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Mr Denis Lyons, Dr Máire O’Connor, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr Ray Parle, Dr Justin Roche

EB Minute 24/07:  Apologies
Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 25/07:  Minutes of the last meeting (25th April 2007)
These minutes were agreed and were then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 26/07:  Matters Arising
It was noted that a response to correspondence received from Kathy Sinnott, MEP was currently in draft which will be signed-off via the Executive Committee (EB Minute 16/07 refers).

EB Minute 27/07:  Correspondence
It was noted that a response is currently being prepared by the Secretariat, through the Chairman, in relation to correspondence received from Caroline Sellars, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Children to Deirdre Sadlier, Director, Secretariat on 30th April 2007 regarding a query received by the Department on water fluoridation.

EB Minutes 28/07: Report of the Sub-committees

The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the supplier of HFSA is helping to facilitate the implementation of the new regulations by reducing the concentration of HFSA supplied to water fluoridation treatment plants from 14% to 10.9%.
•	It was noted that the final draft of the Code of Practice on the Fluoridation of Drinking Water has been forwarded to the Department of Health and Children.  
•	It was noted that members of the Secretariat had met with Mr Martin Devine, Assistant National Director, Population Health/Environmental Health, HSE.  
•	It was noted that the draft pre-audit questionnaire and draft Request for Tender have been forwarded to the HSE for their observations, it is hoped that the tender process will be in place by the third quarter of 2007.
•	It was noted that the HSE have requested sight of the Expert Body’s National Audit of Water Fluoridation Treatment Plants to ensure the questions they need addressed are covered.  It was noted that it was important that the Expert Body was perceived to be acting as an independent body while simultaneously working with the HSE.

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that research conducted by the Oral Health Services Research Centre, Cork on fluoride intake in infants will be made available to the Department of Health and Children shortly. (EB Minute 20/07 refers).
•	Dr Mullen gave a report on the Council of European Chief Dental Officers Meeting in Jerusalem on 5th – 8th May 2007.
•	Professor Clarkson gave a report on the Sixtieth World Assembly Meeting in Geneva on 14th – 23rd May 2007.
•	The Oral Health of Irish Adults 2002-2006 was tabled.  It was noted that it is hoped to have a formal presentation of the results at the next Plenary Meeting on 17th October next.

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the Q&A has been drafted by the Secretariat which will be signed off at the next Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee meeting and will then be forwarded to the full Plenary Body electronically for approval.  Following the final sign-off of the Q&A it will be circulated to those identified in Priority Groups 1 and 2.
•	A briefing was given on the UCC/HRB Topical Fluoride – Guideline Development Group by the Secretariat.  It was noted that it is hoped to sign-off on the guidelines by late 2007 / early 2008.  It was noted that how the guidelines are implemented is a key issue that needs to be addressed, it was agreed to ask Professor O’Mullane to enquire to this end at the next meeting of the group.

Ad Hoc Committee – Oral Health Care Industry reported the following:
•	It was noted that the group has been making progress on its deliberations on the current status of the advice given in the 2002 Forum Report on the use of fluoride toothpaste (Recommendation 3).  There are a number of issues that need to be finalised before the Committee makes its final recommendation regarding the advice given on the use of fluoride toothpaste in the 2002 Forum Report.  It is planned to hold one final meeting of the group in the next few weeks to finalise this matter. The discussions on this same issue in the UK are being taken into account because of the fact the marketing of fluoride toothpaste in the Republic of Ireland is closely linked with the marketing of this product in the UK. Also, the group needs to further consider the situation regarding Special Needs children under the age of 2 years on which matter the group are being advised by Professor June Nunn of the Dublin Dental School and Hospital. Further work on the wording of some of the recommendations also needs to be finalised.

The Ad-hoc Committee to develop Priority Research reported the following:
•	The Terms of Reference of the Committee were agreed by the Meeting as:
o	Commission Research (fluorosis and caries)
o	Develop the Tender Document
o	Ad-hoc Group to select the Tenderer subject to conditions of contract
o	Monitor or oversee the research
o	Ensure successful completion of the research
o	All outputs to be owned by the Department of Health and Children

•	It was also agreed that should there be a requirement, after the tender process is completed, co-opted members would be invited onto the Group.
•	It was agreed that for the purposes of the tender evaluation Dr Anthony Staines, UCD and Mr Martin Devine, HSE will be co-opted onto the Group for the evaluation of the tenders.

EB Minute 29/07:  Report of Executive Committee
•	A written Report on the Executive Committee’s meeting held on 6th June 2007 was tabled.
•	Correspondence was noted from Mr Donal Brennan, Water Services Department, Limerick County Council to Mr Martin Devine, Assistant National Director, Population Health/Environmental Health, HSE dated 30th April 2007.  A copy of this correspondence had been forwarded to the Secretariat from Dr Dympna Kavanagh, HSE, Roxtown, Limerick for the Expert Body’s information.  It was agreed to assign this matter to the Quality Assurance Sub-committee for their consideration.  
•	It was noted that following the Secretariat’s meeting with Mr Martin Devine, HSE, the Executive Committee proposed that a written response to welcome the HSE’s establishment of the Committee outlining the Expert Body’s Terms of Reference be forwarded to Mr Devine;   to refer the Draft Terms of Reference for the National Fluoridation Committee to the Quality Assurance Sub-committee to identify any overlap between the Committee and the Expert Body regarding the National Audit; and that the Quality Assurance Sub-committee should refer their comments back to the Executive Committee.  These 3 points were agreed by the Plenary Body.
•	A copy of a letter to Professor Brendan Drumm, CEO, HSE, from Ms Gina Long, Clerk to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children dated 5th April 2007 regarding the resolution passed by the Joint Committee at its meeting of 5th April 2007 in relation to total fluoride intake, provided by Mr Devine to the Secretariat, was noted.  It was noted that there had been no direct communication from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to the Expert Body in this regard.  
•	It was agreed that the name of Dr Iona Pratt, President of the Irish Society of Toxicologists,  should be forwarded to the Department of Health & Children for  consideration as a possible new member of the Expert Body.  Additionally, it was agreed to request that a representative from the Health Promotion Unit of the Department be similarly considered..  It was further agreed to contact Dr Paul Beirne regarding his intention to remain as a member of the Expert Body.
•	It was agreed to adopt the Expert Body Travel Protocol.
•	It was agreed that it would be appropriate to write formally to the Department of Health and Children’s member on the Expert Body, Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer , inviting him to represent the Body at the Federation Dentaire Internationale’s World Dental Health Conference in Dubai in October 2007.

The Health Act 2007
Ms Hilary Coates provided the Meeting with a brief overview of the role and responsibilities of the Health Information Quality Authority.  Ms Coates agreed to provide a copy of her slides to the Secretariat.
EB Minute 30/07:  Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health – Progress Report
The framework for the 3 Year Progress Report as tabled was approved by the Plenary Body.  

A drafting committee comprising the Chairs of the 3 Sub-committees, the Expert Body Chairman and the Director of the Secretariat, will prepare the Report and seek comments and responses from the membership.  It was agreed that the publication should be progressed as expediently as possible and submitted to the Minister for Health and Children for information and to request a contribution to the Report by way of the Foreword.

EB Minute 31/07:  AOB
There was no other business.

EB Minute 32/07:  Date of Next Meeting
The dates of the 2008 Plenary Meetings were agreed as: 27th February, 11th June and 29th October.

The next Plenary Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 17th October 2007 commencing at 10:30am in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

The Chairman thanked all for their attendance and declared the meeting closed at 12:20pm.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________