Minutes of proceedings of the Plenary Meeting of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health held in the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 
on Wednesday, 27th April 2005

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Wayne Anderson, Councillor Jack Bourke, Mr Greg Canning, Professor John Clarkson, Mr Stephen McDermott, Ms Ursula O’Dwyer, Dr Brian O’Herlihy, Mr Darragh Page, Mr Ray Parle, Mr Rowland Reece, Ms Martina Queally

In attendance:  Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Ms Patricia Gilsenan, Secretariat

Apologies:	Dr Paul Beirne, Mr Enda Falvey, Ms Dorothy Gallagher, Dr Gerard Gavin, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr David Moloney, Dr Joe Mullen, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr Luke Varley

EB Minute 17/05:  Apologies
Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 18/05:  Minutes of the last meeting (23rd February 2005)
These Minutes were agreed and then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 19/05:  Matters Arising
The meeting was informed that Mr Sean Power TD, Minister of State, Department of Health and Children would be available to launch the ‘Mighty Mouth’ initiative at a mutually agreeable and appropriate future date (Summer/Autumn 2005).

It was noted that the ‘Use of Fluorides in the Promotion of Oral Health in the Republic of Ireland’ (Lot 2) Report would published on the DOH&C website in due course.

The meeting was advised that the recruitment process of Secretariat staff would be completed shortly.

EB Minute 20/05:  Correspondence
There was no correspondence.

EB Minute 21/05:  HSE Shared Services – Eastern Region Tender (HFSA)
It was noted that Chemifloc was awarded the contract for “Supply and Delivery of Chemicals used for Treatment of Water Intended for Human Consumption - Hydrofluosilicic Acid”.  The contract has been awarded for a 3-year period.

EB Minute 22/05:  DOH&C Dental Research Up-date
Feedback on the DOH&C Dental Research meeting held in Farmleigh on 12th and 13th April 2005 was provided by those members of the Body who attended the event.  They all agreed that it was a very valuable meeting.  It was noted that the research presented will be reviewed under the appropriate EB sub-committee structure in due course when the reports of the proceedings are published on the DOH&C website.

It was agreed that a spokesperson(s) should be available to speak officially on behalf of the Expert Body, eg to respond to media requests etc.  It was agreed that the Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee will consider and recommend on this issue as part of its remit.

EB Minute 23/05:  Report of the Sub-committees
The Chair of each Sub-committee reported to the EB meeting on work in progress and on priority issues relative to their remit.  The presentation of each report was followed by a discussion.  

The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported that the completion of the National Census on PWS and Fluoridation status is currently underway.  This will be used to inform any amendments necessary to existing regulations or whether new regulations require to be drafted in order to implement Recommendation 1 of the Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002).  The census completion date is expected by Summer 2005.   Dr Anderson requested the meeting to note that the FSAI favours amendment to the regulations as soon as possible and by the quickest means to reduce the levels of fluoride in water in line with the Recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation.  The meeting noted that this is a priority matter for the Quality Assurance Sub-committee.  

The Quality Assurance Sub-committee informed the meeting that their review of the report “An Evaluation of the Delivery and Monitoring of Water Fluoridation in Ireland” (EB Minutes 24/11/04 refers) is now complete.  The Sub-committee has accepted the Report’s findings and agreed with its conclusions and recommendations and it is now referred to the Plenary meeting as an Agenda item for further action.

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported that aspects of “controlling dental fluorosis” in-line with the Sub-committee’s remit and a communications strategy are its priority issues. Necessary steps to action these priorities will be the subject matter of the Committee’s next scheduled meeting.  Additionally, an overview of a National Survey on Public Opinions on Fluoride (2000) was presented to the EB meeting.  This baseline data will inform the communications strategy development process for the Expert Body.  Print media coverage of fluorides tabled by the report of the Sub-committee were noted.  

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported that they are currently appraising the most recent peer reviewed evidence on fluorides and health research.  Following completion of this exercise they will report on the matter.  It was noted that “The Use of Fluorides in the Promotion of Oral Health in the Republic of Ireland” report is awaited by the Sub-committee and will be included in the above-mentioned review process.

EB Minute 24/05:  Executive Committee Report
The meeting was informed of discussions made at the Executive Committee held on 23rd February last.

It was noted that Dr O’Herlihy was elected as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee.  It was proposed by the Chairman at the EB meeting that Dr O’Herlihy would also become Vice-Chair of the Expert Body, this was seconded by Mr McDermott and Mr Canning, and agreed unanimously.

It was agreed that the Expert Body should consider requesting that representation from the HSE and HIQA be appointed to the Expert Body.  It was agreed that this would be raised as an agenda item at the Executive Committee immediately following this Plenary.

EB Minute 25/05:  Action Plan
It was agreed that the membership list should be reviewed to incorporate any changes since the Body’s inauguration.  The Draft Action Plan was agreed subject to the aforementioned changes.  It was agreed to circulate the Chairman’s Introduction to the members for their review.  It was agreed that reference to the Secretariat and the Expert Body website should be included in the draft for circulation.  Subsequent to this the Tanaiste and Minister for Health and Children will be invited to contribute a foreword to the Action Plan and any observations to the main body of the Action Plan.  Subsequent publication is scheduled for Summer 2005.
	
EB Minute 26/05:  Symposium 2006
Details of the 2006 Pan European IADR Conference were presented to the meeting.  The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee has recommended support from the Expert Body for the event.  The meeting agreed to support the Symposium in principle.  It was agreed that the funding of same should be an item on the Executive Committee immediately.

EB Minute 27/05:  AOB
The meeting noted that the list of approved food additives is a matter under consideration at EU level.

EB Minute 28/05:  Date of next meeting
The next Plenary meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 22nd June 2005 commencing at 10:30am.  The venue will be the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12:50pm and thanked those present for their attendance.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________