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, 22nd February 2006

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chairman), 
Dr Wayne Anderson, Councillor Jack Bourke, Professor John Clarkson, 
Dr Gerard Gavin, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Brian O’Herlihy, 
Mr Denis Lyons, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr Darragh Page, Mr Ray Parle, 
Ms Martina Queally, Mr. Rowland Reece, Dr Margaret Shannon, Mr Luke Varley

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

Apologies:	Dr Paul Beirne, Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Mr Colm Keenan, Dr Joe Mullen, 
Ms Ursula O’Dwyer, Mr Matt Twomey

EB Minute 01/06:  Apologies

Apologies for the meeting were noted. 

EB Minute 02/06:  Minutes of the last meeting (30th November 2005)

These minutes were agreed and then signed by the Chairman. 

EB Minute 03/06:  Matters Arising

The meeting was informed that the new pharmaceutical legislation does not alter the IMB opinion.  The IMB “considers that neither the fluoride added to drinking water no the resulting fluoridated water are medicinal products which require marketing authorisations as medicines”.

EB Minute 04/06:  Correspondence

The following correspondence was tabled:

1.	The Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Children, alerting the Expert Body to the premature disclosure of information draft reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General. (Letter Mr T Mooney to Dr S O’Hickey 05/01/06 refers).

2.	World Health Organisation, Oral Health Programme, Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion section, acknowledging receipt of the Action Plan 2005. (Letter Dr P E Petersen, to Ms D Sadlier 26/01/06 refers).

3.	The National Fluoride Information Centre (NFIC), acknowledging receipt of the Action Plan 2005.  (Letter Professor A Blinkhorn, Director, NFIC to Ms D Sadlier received 30/11/05 refers).

The following correspondence was noted which acknowledged receipt of the Expert Body’s Action Plan 2005

1.	Chairperson, Interim Health Information and Quality Authority. (Letter Mr P McGrath to Dr S O’Hickey 12/05 refers)

2.	Water Services, Westmeath County Council regarding the reduction in the level of fluoride in public water supplies.  (Letter Mr J Gavin to DOE 06/12/05 refers)

EB Minute 05/06:  Report of Quality Assurance Sub-committee

•	The findings of the National Census on PWS and Fluoridation Status was presented to the meeting.

•	Following a briefing it was agreed to adopt the Code of Practice (CoP) on Fluoridation of Drinking Water as drafted by the QA Sub-committee prior to consultation with the stakeholders eg HSE and Local Authorities.  

•	It was further agreed to adopt the draft Protocol for Independent Testing of HFSA as drafted by the QA Sub-committee, the Public Analyst Laboratory and the Secretariat prior to consultation with stakeholders.

•	The meeting was briefed on the development of the latest draft amendments to the Regulations. It was noted that group schemes and private wells are not covered by the Water Fluoridation Act but are bound by the drinking water regulations.

•	Feedback was provided to the meeting on latest developments in relation to the National Audit of Water Fluoridation Plants.  It was agreed that the Secretariat will circulate the Environmental Protection Agency Report ‘The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland’.  The meeting noted section 2.2.2 Chemical Parameter Compliance, sub-section Fluoride.  Additionally, the meeting noted that Expert Body member Mr Darragh Page is co-author of the Report.

EB Minute 06/06:  Reports of the Sub-committees

The NEI Sub-committee reported on the following:

•	The meeting approved the Position Statement on the ‘Review of Evidence’ Procedures for the Expert Body.  The Body was informed that the NEI Sub-committee will formulate position papers on other issues in due course.

•	The meeting was informed that the drafting of a priority research proposal addressing measurement of total fluoride intake will be discussed at the next Sub-committee meeting.

•	As previously agreed by the Expert Body that the effects of the planned reduction in water fluoridation levels, from 0.8-1.0mg/l to 0.6-0.8mg/l would need to be monitored from the start of the reduction and subsequently on a regular basis (Expert Body Plenary meeting 30/11/05, Minute 54/05 refers), it was noted that research support in the way of funding would be required from the relevant agency in the future.  The meeting was informed that the NEI Sub-committee will send a proposal to the DOH&C in this regard.

•	The meeting noted that the Sub-committee is providing information on fluoride levels in drinking water to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, USA 

•	The meeting was informed that Professor O’Mullane has been invited as a contributor to the WHO Initiatives / China Fluoridation Conference “Framework for effective use of fluorides in the People’s Republic of China”, Beijing, 13-15 March 2006.

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported that:

•	The Sub-committee proposed the nomination of Dr Helen Whelton, Director, Oral Health Services Research Centre and Dr Mary O’Farrell, Oral Health Promotion Research Group, to the Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee.  This was agreed by the Body unanimously.

•	A briefing was given to the meeting on the DOH&C Policy in relation to Chid Health strategy developments and the new structure of the HSE concerning Population Health.  This included an outline of the DHF role and resources were specified.  In particular the ‘Winning Smiles’ Schools Oral Health Programme for 7-8 Year Olds.

•	The Sub-committees work to-date in relation to Recommendation 3 and 4 of the Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002) was relayed to the meeting.  Particular attention was paid to work in progress on the Communications Strategy and media monitoring.  

EB Minute 07/06:  IADR Pan European Federation Symposium September 2006

•	The Body was given a verbal briefing on the meeting content.

•	It was agreed that all members who wish to attend the Symposium should contact the Secretariat.

EB Minute 08/06:  Advice to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children

•	It was agreed that supplemental material for the submission with the Order of Business 3096/06 – Water Fluoridation would be submitted to the DOH&C.  It was agreed that the Secretariat would enquire if the information provided by the Expert Body had informed the written response.

EB Minute 09/06: Membership

The meeting was informed that a letter had been sent to the Department of Health and Children recommending that an invitation to join the IEBFH be extended to the current DOH&C Dental Advisor pending the appointment of a Chief Dental Officer.

The meeting noted that a report on membership had been submitted to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children for her comments and response.

The meeting agreed that Professor Clarkson should be invited to become a member of the Executive Committee, Professor Clarkson accepted the nomination.  

EB Minute 10/06:  AOB

It was agreed that there use of a PA systems for the Plenary meetings would no longer be required.

EB Minute 11/06:  Date of next meeting

The next plenary meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 26th April 2005 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 12:15pm.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________