The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health
	An Corpán Oilte éireannach um Fluairídí agus Sláinte
	26 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
	T: +353 1 478 0466
	F: +353 1 478 0475
	E: secretariat@dentalhealth.ie	

Minutes of proceedings of the Plenary Meeting of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health held in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin 2 on 
Wednesday 23rd June 2004

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Dr Joe Mullen, Mr Stephen McDermott, Mr David Moloney, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Enda Falvey, Councillor Jack Bourke, Dr Brian O’Herlihy, Mr Darragh Page, Mr Ray Parle, Mr Rowland Reece, Dr Wayne Anderson, Dr Paul Beirne, Ms Dorothy Gallagher.

Apologies:	Dr Gerard Gavin, Professor John Clarkson, Professor William Binchy, Ms Ursula O Dwyer, Ms Biddy O’Neill, Mr Oliver Fogarty, Ms Martina Queally, Mr Matt Twomey.

In attendance:  Ms. Deirdre Sadlier, Ms. Patricia Gilsenan, Ms. Breeda Maher

Amendments:  Minutes of Inaugural Plenary Meeting held on 29th April 2004

The Expert Body changed minute 3. 29/04/04 – Programme for this Inaugural meeting.  
It was agreed that the final sentence is as follows: “The remit of the Expert Body is to implement the Recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation 2002.” Followed with the insertion of the Expert Body’s terms of reference.  

Terms of Reference 
•	To oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation.

•	To advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research – including new emerging issues – on all aspects of fluoride, its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required.

•	To report to the Minister on matters of concern at his /her request or on own initiative.

Relevant to this minute, Mr Jack Bourke expressed his concern in relation to a media article carried in the Irish Independent dated 22nd June 2004 and the absence of balance on the fluoride issue. This prompted considerable discussion amongst the membership with regard to media coverage of evidenced based information on fluorides and health. It was agreed that the most efficient and effective approach for dealing with the nature of such articles was to put in place a communications strategy. Ms Sadlier stated that this action was proposed in the draft action plan and could be further discussed under item 4 on the agenda.

Chairman: Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Director: Ms Deirdre Sadlier

Minute 6. 
29/04/04 was also changed – Working Structure, Method and Programme for the Expert Body.  It was agreed to change the second last paragraph as follows: “ in order to facilitate the work of the Expert Body, a short presentation could be made on the background to the Forum on Fluoridation’s decisions and how these decisions were arrived at.

Matters Arising

Minute 6 - Working structure, Method and Programme for the Expert Body. 

It was agreed to hold an information seminar on the agreed date of the 21st July 2004 for the Membership of the Expert Body at FSAI offices, courtesy of Dr Wayne Anderson.  Its purpose will be to inform the membership of current and emerging research relevant to the remit of the Expert Body since the publication of the Forum on Fluoridation Report  March 2002. The following topic areas were proposed and Expert Body members J Mullen, D O’Mullane, W Andersen and R Parle agreed to present:

•	Commentary on the Forum on Fluoridation
•	Current Research on Fluorides and Oral Health
•	Risk Assessment on the reconstitution of Infant Formula with fluoridated tap water in Ireland, and
•	The Water Fluoridation Process, technical and administrative matters. 

It was agreed to appoint a small working group: Professor O’Mullane, Dr Mullen, Mr Parle and Dr Anderson to work with D Sadlier who would act as the seminar’s convenor and that the programme for the day should include adequate time for debate and discussions on relevant matters arising. It was also agreed to circulate notice of the Seminar as soon as possible to Expert Body members absent from today’s meeting.

Minute 9.  A Vice Chair and an Executive
It agreed that a decision on the appointment of a Vice Chair was deferred to a later Plenary meeting. Dr Anderson advised the Meeting that he was not in a position to be a member of the Executive.

Minutes of the meeting held on the 29/04/04 were adopted and signed by the Chairman. 

Minutes of the meeting (23/06/04)

Minute Agenda Item 4: Draft Action Plan for the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health.

The Chairman introduced the draft action plan prepared for the Expert Body and D Sadlier guided the membership through the document. At the outset Ms Sadlier informed the membership that following the approval of the action plan, a detailed business plan would be developed setting out a proposed workplan for the Expert Body to consider at the next Plenary meeting scheduled for the 29th September 2004. 

Considerable discussion and debate took place on the proposed contents of the Action Plan and the changes and additions agreed are as follows;

Changes to Draft Action Plan: (see attached – Item 1.2)

Section 1:
Terms of Reference of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health
Strategic Framework

Section 2:
Recommendations and Key Performance Indicators

Section 3:
Recommendation 1:  Policy Aspects of Water Fluoridation.  Specific Action 1.2.2.

Recommendation 2:  Technical Aspects of Water Fluoridation.  Specific Actions 2.2.2 and 2.3.3.

Recommendation 3:  Fluoride Toothpaste.  Specific Action 3.2.2.

Recommendation 4:  Oral Health Care Industry. Specific Action 4.3.3.

Recommendation 6:  Fluoride Research.  Specific Action 6.2.2.

It was agreed that wording of this action could be subject to change following clarification by the Department of Health and Children.

Additions to Draft Action Plan: (see attached – Item 1.2)

Section 3:
General addition.  Specific Actions will include

Recommendation 5:  Infant Formula.  Specific Action 5.1.1.

Section 4:
Governance Framework.
1)	Expert Body Decision Making Process and Role of Chairperson:  Code of Practice for the Government of State Bodies

Appendix A (i)
Impact of Oral Disease

Appendix B
Common Risk Factors for General and Oral Health

Ms Sadlier also advised that the Governance Framework will be more developed and included in the proposed business plan. 

It was also agreed that adequate human resource requirements were necessary for the implementation of the Action Plan and that these need identification in the proposed Business Plan.

Explanation on the Budget for the 2004 was given to the membership. It was agreed to seek clarification from the Department of Health and Children about funding arrangements for future years. ie the Expert Body would be in receipt of designated monies and the mechanisms for funding and accountability outlined.

The Draft Action Plan was adopted by the Expert Body subject to the amendments being made.  The Secretariat was requested to develop a draft business plan based on the amended action plan and for the document to be circulated for consideration by the Expert Body at the forthcoming Plenary meeting on 29th September next scheduled. It was also agreed that the Business Plan once adopted, would be submitted to the Department of Health and Children for budgetary considerations for 2005 and beyond. 

Minute 5:  Briefing Document prepared by the Dental Health Foundation.

Due to time constraints. It was agreed to cancel a presentation on the Dental Health Foundation planned initiative, a schools based oral health promotion programme for 5 years old children. However, it was agreed that the Expert Body should lend its support to this evidence-based programme, based on the detailed briefing document provided the Expert Body in advance of today’s meeting as its aims and objectives are consistent with Recommendation 3 of the Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002). Support for this initiative was proposed by Dr O'Herlihy and seconded by Mr Dermott. and adopted unanimously. 

Minute 6 and 7. Proposed themes for the sub-committees.

It was agreed to defer these items until the next plenary meeting.

It was further agreed that a full day for Plenary Meetings is required to accommodate the work of the Expert Body.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed and thanked everyone for their attendance.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________