Draft 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, 27th February 2008

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chair), Professor Denis O’Mullane, Councillor Jack Bourke, , Mr Michael Kilcoyne, Mr Denis Lyons,  Dr Joe Mullen, Dr Máire O’Connor, Mr Colm Keenan, Mr Rowland Reece, Dr Wayne Anderson, Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Dr Margaret Shannon 

In attendance: 	Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat, Ms Pheena Kenny

Apologies:	Professor John Clarkson, Mr Ray Parle, Mr Stephen McDermott, Ms Hilary Coates, Ms Martina Queally, 

EB Minute 01/08:  Apologies
Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 02/08:  Minutes of the last meeting (17th October 2007)
These minutes were agreed and were then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 03/08:  Matters Arising
There were no matters arising

EB Minute 04/08:  Correspondence
Correspondence was noted from Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Children dated 16th November 2007 to Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman regarding a PQ that was asked by Deputy Jan O’Sullivan re a fluoride survey carried out in Donegal
As a follow-up to this, correspondence from Dr O’ Hickey to Dr Andrew Rynne dated 21st November 2007 requesting a copy of the survey was noted. Further correspondence from Dr Rynne to Dr O’Hickey dated 27th November 2007 refusing to supply the details of the survey was noted. Correspondence from Dr O’Hickey to Mr Chris Fitzgerald dated 6th February 2008 informing him of Dr Rynnes response was noted.
Correspondence from Ms. Kathy Sinnott MEP dated 7th December 2007 and received by the Secretariat 17th December as was a response to this from Ms. Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children dated 18th December 2007 

EB Minutes 05/08: Report of the Sub-committees
The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:
•	The uptake of the Code of Practice by the local authorities has been successful and that many of them have requested extra copies
•	The HSE has undertaken to put in place the Independent Testing for HFSA.
•	The QA Sub-Committee recommended the award of the tender for the National Audit (to Tobin Consulting Engineers) The Expert Body approved this recommendation. Funding of the proposed National Audit: the HSE are giving consideration and also providing additional funding in order that the National Audit be carried out on 100% of water treatment plants. It was further noted that many of the local authorities have conducted the fluoridation self-assessment process in advance of the National Audit commencing. 

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:
•	The statement re the STROBE initiative and its implications for dental public health research was noted and was welcomed by the Expert Body as it regards the type of studies that have been carried out on Fluoridation in Ireland as having acceptable scientific merit.
•	A summary of the report “Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective – World Cancer Research Fund, American Institute for Cancer Research”, which was given by Mr Rowland Reece was noted.
•	A presentation was made to the Expert Body by Dr Joe Mullen on the report “Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards”. It was noted that the report stated that Fluoridation is widely practiced in the United States to protect against the development of dental caries; fluoride is added to public water supplies at 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L.  “The committee’s conclusions regarding the potential for adverse effects from fluoride at 2 to 4 mg/L in drinking water do not address the lower exposures commonly experienced by most U.S. citizens. “The charge to the committee did not include an examination of the benefits and risks that might occur at these lower concentrations of fluoride in drinking water”. The slides of the presentation will be circulated to all Expert Body members.
•	It was noted that the report Fluoride in Drinking Water, Scientific background information – Canada is to be considered by the Expert Body when it is published.
•	A presentation was made to the Expert Body by Dr Joe Mullen on the report “Public Health: ethical issues, Nuffield Council on Bioethics” 
•	A summary given by the Secretariat on the report “A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of fluoridation  - Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Centre” was noted and the full report will be circulated to all Expert Body members.
•	A summary given by Mr Rowland Reece of the WHO Report – “Chemical safety of drinking water: Assessing priorities for risk    management” was noted
•	It was noted that the Infant Formula Statement will be amended to include findings of the report “Fluoride Intake in Infants” – OHSRC, UCC and it was agreed to publish the statement once the Expert Body has reported it to the Department of Health and Children.
The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the Q&A leaflet “Fluoride and Public Health” has been printed and will be circulated to Priority Group 1 which consists of the health professionals.
•	It was noted that S.I. No 6 of 2008 European Communities (Cosmetic Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 has been published and the Department of Health and Children advised the Expert Body that it will contact its legal advisors in relation to it.
•	It was noted that Britain’s Health Secretary has made a recommendation in relation to the uptake of fluoridation in Britain as he considers it to be a worthwhile health strategy. It was further noted that funding is available to councils who wish to proceed with water fluoridation.
•	Letters to the Editors of the Irish Times and the Sunday Times were noted. It was also noted the water fluoridation policy received support from individuals outside of the Expert Body.

Ad Hoc Committee – Oral Health Care Industry reported the following:
•	It was agreed to adopt the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Oral Health Care Industry – Use of Fluoride Toothpaste. It was noted that the report suggests that “Parents should supervise children aged 2 to 7 years when brushing their teeth and should ensure that only a small, pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is used also parents should ensure that the toothpaste is spat out and swallowing all the toothpaste is avoided.” It was further noted that children with special needs should also used fluoride toothpaste of 1000ppm or higher.

The Ad-hoc Committee to develop Priority Research reported the following:
•	It was noted that there is a requirement to have the baseline research in place as soon as possible as the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007 came into effect on 1st July 2007.
•	It was noted that the Ad Hoc Committee have made a recommendation in relation to awarding the tender to the Oral Health Services Research Centre in Cork and it was the consensus of the Expert Body to award the tender to them.
•	It was noted that costs for the baseline research will need to be examined and it was suggested that the fieldwork could be carried out alone in order to reduce the costs.
•	A sub-group was proposed to examine and consider the various options in relation to funding. The sub-group will include Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Chair), Professor Denis O’Mullane, Dr Joe Mullen, Mr Stephen Mc Dermott and Dr Wayne Anderson.
•	It was suggested that the baseline research could be part of the research required under the Programme for Government “Arising from the work of the Expert Body on Fluorides and Health and the motion agreed unanimously by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children, the HSE will carry out a national study of total fluoride intake in the population and we will bring its conclusions to Government.”
•	It was agreed that the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government will consider how it may be incorporated into the Programme for Government.
•	It was agreed that the Secretariat will contact the OHSRC in relation to the costs of the baseline research

EB Minute 06/08:  Report of Executive Committee
•	The Report on the Executive Committee’s meeting held on 10th December 2007 was noted.
.
EB Minute 07/08:  Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health – Progress Report
•	The latest draft of the Expert Body Progress Report was noted.  The Secretariat are amending the document with recommendations made by Professor Denis O’Mullane.

EB Minute 08/08:  New National Oral Health Policy
•	It was agreed that the Submission from the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to the Core Policy Group will be circulated to all members by the Secretariat.

EB Minute 09/08:  Environmental Protection Agency
•	It was agreed that the report “The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland – A report for the years 2006-2007” will be reviewed by the Quality Assurance Sub-Committee.

EB Minute 10/08:  Fluoride Intake in Infants
•	It was agreed that the presentation of the report “Fluoride Intake in Infants” be postponed until the next Plenary Meeting due to the busy Agenda.

EB Minute 10/08:  AOB
There was no AOB

EB Minute 43/07:  Date of Next Meeting
The next Plenary Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 11th June 2008 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 13:10pm

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________