Minutes of proceedings of the Plenary Meeting of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health held in the Davenport Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 on Wednesday, 30th November 2005

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

In attendance: Mr Tom Rogers, Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat

Apologies:	Dr Gerard Gavin, Mr Matt Twomey, Mr Luke Varley, Professor John Clarkson, Mr David Moloney, Dr Joe Mullen, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr. Colm Keenan

EB Minute 49/05:  Apologies

Apologies for the meeting were noted. 

EB Minute 50/05:  Minutes of the last meeting (28th September 2005)

These minutes were agreed and then signed by the Chairman. 

The Chairman extended his thanks to Dr Helen Whelton, Director of the Oral Health Services Research Centre, University Hospital, Cork and to Professor O’Mullane for their hospitality in hosting the previous plenary meeting of 28th September 2005.

EB Minute 51/05:  Matters Arising

•	The Chairman extended congratulations to Professor John Clarkson on his recent retirement as Dean of the Dublin Dental School and Hospital. Professor Clarkson continues to be an active member of the Expert Body.

EB Minute 52/05:  Correspondence

Ref:	-	Correspondence was noted from many recipients acknowledging receipt of the Expert Body’s Action Plan 2005. These recipients were from within Ireland and abroad.

EB Minute 53/05:  Advice to the Tánaiste and Minster for Health & Children

The circulated document; “Water Fluoridation – A Review of Recent Research and Actions”, published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons was discussed in relation to a Parliamentary Question submitted for written answer. It was agreed to refer the paper to the New and Emerging Issues sub-committee for review. It was also agreed that an interim reply to the question would be formulated, explaining that the document had been submitted to the Expert body for its detailed consideration and response.

EB Minute 54/05:  Report of the Sub-Committees
The Chair of each Sub-committee reported to the Plenary meeting on work in progress on priority issues relative to their remit.  The presentation of each report was followed by a discussion.The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported that:

•	Work on the National Census on PWS and Fluoridation Status was now complete, and that representative of the sub-committee would be presenting the work at the Society of Chief and Principal Dental Surgeons Winter meeting.
•	The regulations and fluoridations of the PWS were still under review, and a parliamentary draughtsperson would advise the DOH&C within 2 two weeks.
•	A draft Code of Practice (CoP) for fluoridation of Public Water Supplies is underway, with a planned completion date of December 2005
•	Development of Protocol for the independent testing of HFSA is currently being carried out by the Secretariat and QA Sub-committee.
•	A sub-group for the National Audit was set up. The Scope for the National Audit will be established by early December

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

•	The Communications Strategy was under ongoing review, and draft proposals were circulated highlighting the main audiences, methods, and communications channels.

Its overarching Objectives are to:

1.	Let people know the Recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation and the Action Plan of the Expert Body.

2.	Stress safety and quality assurance of water fluoridation and fluoride.

3.	Counter misinformation with facts about fluorides.

4.	Position Expert Body in the public mind as an independent source of information on oral health issues; Body to be seen to be objective and scientific, not prejudiced.

5.	 	Ensure that communication is delivered proactively to audiences.

Feedback was requested on this document by December 12th at which point the development of the strategy would move to a more detailed phase.

Initial informal meetings between the Secretariat and representatives of the Oral Health Care Industry, in relation to Recommendations 3 and 4 of the Action Plan, were noted. 

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee’s report informed members of priority areas as follows:

•	The Sub-committee proposed 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. This was agreed by the meeting.

•	The sub-committee proposed that the Expert Body recommends to the Department of Health and Children that an invitation to join the IEBFH be extended to the current DOH&C Dental Advisor, pending the appointment of a Chief Dental Officer.

•	An invitation to the British Fluoridation Society’s AGM had been received.  It was agreed that a NEI member will attend as an IEBFH representative.

•	The Draft National Nutrition Policy Document (Dental Diseases Section) had been completed and submitted to the DOH&C.

EB Minute 55/05:  Executive Committee Report

The Report of the Executive Committee, October 2005 was tabled and noted by the Plenary. 

•	The Chair of the C/PH/HP Sub-committee proposed that an alternative Chair be appointed to this Sub-committee from the HSE Population Health Division.

EB Minute 56/05:  Mid-West Health Service Executive – Protocol for Fluoride Mouth Rinsing, presentation by Dr. Dympna Kavanagh, Principal Dental Surgeon.
Dr. Kavanagh presented on the Mid-West approach to an improved fluoride mouth rinsing programme. Information and consent for same was circulated (Tabled Item 8.1). Dr. Kavanagh took questions after her presentation. 

EB Minute 57/05: ‘Evaluation of the Delivery and Monitoring of Water Fluoridation in Ireland’, final report.
The report was noted by the meeting.

EB Minute 58/05:  Health Service Executive – Corporate Plan 2005-2008
The HSE Corporate Plan was also noted by the meeting. 

EB Minute 59/05:  Plenary Meeting Dates for 2006
The proposed meeting dates for 2006 were tabled and approved. The dates are:
•	Wednesday, 22nd February
•	Wednesday, 26th April
•	Wednesday, 14th June
•	Wednesday, 27th September
•	Wednesday, 29th November

EB Minute 60/05:  AOB

The meeting was informed that the issue relating to fluoridated water being classified as a medicine under EU legislation had been referred to the Irish Medicines Board (IMB). The Expert Body will be advised of the IMB position in this regard.

EB Minute 61/05:  Date of next meeting

The next plenary meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 22nd February 2005 commencing at 10:30am.

The Chairman thanked all for their attendance and declared the meeting closed at 01:25pm.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________