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, 29th October 2008

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chair), Professor John Clarkson, Mr Colm Keenan, Mr Michael Kilcoyne, Mr Denis Lyons, Dr Joe Mullen, Dr Máire O’Connor, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr Ray Parle , Mr Rowland Reece, Dr Margaret Shannon

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

Apologies:	Councillor Jack Bourke, Mr Stephen McDermott, Ms Martina Queally

A minutes silence was observed on the recent passing of the Vice-Chair’s mother.

Best wishes for Mr Stephen McDermott to make a speedy recovery were noted.

EB Minute 55/08:  Apologies
Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 56/08:  Minutes of the last meeting (11th June 2008)
These minutes were agreed and were then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 57/08:  Matters Arising
It was noted that the Core Policy Group’s review was ongoing and that they hope to produce a Report in early 2009.  

Following the presentation by Professor Whelton at the Plenary Meeting in June last a Position Statement on Fluoride Intake in Infants was prepared and placed on the Expert Body website.  A copy of the Report was sent to the American Dental Association with the permission of the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

EB Minute 58/08:  Correspondence
Correspondence was noted from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman, the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to Mr Markos Kyprianou, EU Commissioner on Health, European Commission on 9th October 2008 providing the latest scientific based information to the Commission for their information.  Also noted was subsequent correspondence from Dr O’Hickey to Mr Charlie McCreevy, EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, European Commission in this regard on 24th October 2008.

Correspondence from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman, to the National Consumer Agency on 8th October 2008 forwarding the correspondence between the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in relation to the company The Pure H2O Company (Ireland) Limited on 25th June 2008 were noted.

Correspondence was noted to Mr Gerry Finn, Enquiry & Legal Officer, Irish Human Rights Commission on 21st October 2008 from Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat forwarding a copy of the Forum on Fluoridation Report 2002 as requested by Mr Finn.

Correspondence dated 17th October 2008 was noted from Mr Martin Devine, Assistant National Director, Population Health – Environmental Health, HSE to Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat inviting the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to nominate a representative to participate on the tendering committee to negotiate the contract for the supply and delivery of Hydrofluosilicic Acid.  It was agreed to pass this request to the QA Sub-committee and for them to nominate a representative.

Correspondence to Ms Jennifer Hough of the Irish Examiner on 17th September 2008 from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman providing a statement from the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health on water fluoridation was noted.

Email correspondence was noted from Dr Sheila Jones on 27th October 2008 to the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health providing details of a ballot to vote against a fluoridation referendum in Bolton, UK.

Email correspondence between Mr Eoin Llewellyn and Ms Patricia Gilsenan-O’Neill, Secretariat in October 2008 regarding queries raised by Mr Llewellyn was noted.

EB Minute 59/08:  Future Role of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health
An oral report of the submission to the DOH&C was given to the meeting.

It was noted that the Executive Committee has requested a meeting with the DOH&C to discuss the future role of the Expert Body.

It was agreed that Dr Maire O’Connor will send details of the HIP Fracture Registry Conference to the Secretariat for distribution to the Body.

It was agreed that the Expert Body should look at ways of monitoring the General Health of the Irish population by reviewing of other populations.

It was agreed that the Expert Body’s Progress Report will be updated and circulated to the Plenary Body for their review and final comments.

EB Minutes 60/08: EU Directives
It was agreed that the legal opinion the Expert Body had received would be forwarded to the DOH&C.

The Water Framework Directive was tabled and an oral briefing was given to the Plenary Body.

EB Minutes 61/08: Baseline Study to Monitor Specific Effects of Amending the Level of Fluoride in Water Supplies in the Republic of Ireland
A statement on the current status of the Baseline Research was read by the Chairman, Dr Seamus O’Hickey.

EB Minutes 62/08: National Audit of Water Treatment Plants
An oral update was given.  It was noted that a final report is due in early 2009.

EB Minutes 63/08: Report of the Sub-committees
The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the HSE has undertaken to put in place the Independent Testing of HFSA.
•	An update on the HSE Water Fluoridation Steering Committee Meeting was given.  It was noted that the Committee are committed to local input.

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that the 12 studies from China re the relationship between fluoridation and IQ were all related to high levels of naturally occurring fluorides.  Populations that consumed 1ppm all had normal IQ ranges.  
•	An oral review of “Australia’s Health 2008” – The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare was given.
•	The following documents were reviewed by the NEI Sub-committee: “Findings and Recommendations of the Fluoride Expert Panel” – Health Canada, “Global Affordability of Fluoride Toothpaste” Goldman et al and Irish Academy of Engineering – Reports in relation to future water shortages, water charges and desalination issues in Ireland.

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported the following:
•	The Secretariat provided a briefing on relevant media coverage.
•	It was noted that €35 million has been allocated to fluoridating drinking water supplies in Queensland, Australia so that 90% of Queenslanders will have fluoridated water by 2012 (source Water Fluoridation Bill 2008)

The Ad-hoc Committee to develop Priority Research:
•	An update was provided by the Chairman, Dr Seamus O’Hickey.

EB Minute 64/08:  Report on FDI Meeting 2008
A report by the Secretariat was tabled.

EB Minute 65/08:  Report of Executive Committee
•	The Report on the Executive Committee’s meeting held on 14th October 2008 was noted and accepted.  It was agreed that in the interests of clarity the sections on the EU Commission Directive 2007/53/EC and CECDO should be included under separate headings.

EB Minute 66/08:  AOB
There was no other business.

EB Minute 67/08:  Date of Next Meeting
The next Plenary Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 25th March 2009 commencing at 10:30am in the Board Room, Corrigan House, Fenian Street, Dublin 2.

The Chairman thanked all for their attendance and declared the meeting closed at 12:45pm

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________