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 November 2006

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chair), Councillor Jack Bourke, Mr Michael Kilcoyne, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Máire O’Connor, Ms Ursula O’Dwyer, Mr Darragh Page, Mr Ray Parle, Ms Martina Queally, Mr Rowland Reece, Dr Margaret Shannon

In attendance: 	Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Ms Patricia Gilsenan-O’Neill, Mr Tom Rogers, 
Ms Etain Kett, Secretariat

Apologies:	Dr Wayne Anderson, Dr Paul Beirne, Mr Robbie Breen, Professor John Clarkson, Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Mr Colm Keenan, Dr Joe Mullen, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Dr Justin Roche, Mr Matt Twomey, Mr Luke Varley

EB Minute 43/06:  Apologies

Apologies for the meeting were noted.

EB Minute 44/06:  Minutes of the last meeting (27th September 2006)

These minutes were agreed and were then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 45/06:  Matters Arising

It was noted that Mr Brian Brogan has resigned from iHIQA and the Secretariat is awaiting details of his replacement. (EB Minute 31/06 refers).

As Dr Anderson was unable to attend the meeting it was agreed that discussion relating to the levels of sodium content in bottled water available to consumers in the ROI would be referred to the next Expert Body Plenary Meeting scheduled for 28th February 2007. (EB Minute 27/06 and 34/06 refer).

EB Minute 46/06:  Correspondence

The following four items of correspondence were noted:

1.	Correspondence relating to the Current Draft of Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2006.  (Letter from Department of Health and Children to the Chairman, of the Expert Body on 02/11/06 refers).  This item was dealt with under Item 5 of the Meeting Agenda.  (EB Minute 47/06 refers).

2.	Correspondence relating to Funding for Fluoride Baseline Study Research.  (Letter from the Department of Health and Children to the Director, Secretariat 21/11/06 refers).  This item was dealt with under Item 6 of the Meeting Agenda (EB Minute 48/06 refers).

3. 	Correspondence was noted from The National Fluoride Information Centre (NFIC), UK regarding their forthcoming conference “Researching Water Fluoridation; Evaluation & Surveillance” on 31st January 2007 in the University of Manchester. (Letter to Ms. Deirdre Sadlier, from Professor Anthony Blinkhorn 27/10/06 refers).  This item was dealt with under Item 8 of the Meeting Agenda (EB Minute 50/06).

4.	Correspondence relating to Water Fluoridation in Ireland.  (Letter from the Chairman of the Expert Body to the Health Supplement of the Irish Times published on 21/11/06).  This item was dealt with under Item 7 of the Meeting Agenda (EB Minute 49/06 refers).

EB Minute 47/06:  Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2006

It was agreed the Executive Committee will agree the final wording for Schedule 1 to be forwarded to the Department of Health and Children for their consideration.

EB Minute 48/06:  Research Requirement Re Agenda Item 5

With reference to the correspondence relating to Funding for Fluoride Baseline Study Research.  (Letter from the Department of Health and Children to the Director, Secretariat 21/11/06 refers).  It was agreed that Dr Brian O’Herlihy and Mr Stephen McDermott will progress this matter (via the Secretariat) directly with the Department of Health and Children.

EB Minute 49/06:  Report of the Sub-committees

The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:

•	In relation to the Code of Practice it was agreed that all members will forward their comments to the Secretariat by 13th December.  It was agreed to request support for the Code of Practice by way of a Foreword / Preface from the Departments of Health and Children and Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 

•	The Draft Protocol for the Independent Testing of HFSA prepared by the QA Sub-committee, Public Analyst Laboratory and the Secretariat, which has already been sent out for consultation to stakeholders is currently under consideration by PCCC and the Population Health Directorate of the Health Service Executive.  It was agreed that Mr McDermott will contact the Assistant National Director on Environmental Health and ask for feedback in relation to the draft protocol.

•	National Audit on Water Treatment Plants: It was agreed that Mr Parle, Mr Page, Ms Kett (Secretariat) and Ms McLoughlin (co-opted Sub-committee member) would form a sub-group to develop the pre-audit questionnaire.  

The Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee reported the following:

•	It was agreed that Dr O’Connor and Mr Kilcoyne will become members of this Sub-committee.

•	It was noted the Secretariat and members of the Sub-committee are progressing the Communications Strategy and the appointment of a Communications Advisor to the Expert Body.  The meeting was advised that out of 6 tenders received 3 have been invited to present to the Sub-committee on 8th December 2006.  

•	It was noted that the Inaugural meeting of the Ad-hoc Committee – Oral Health Care Industry met on 12th October.  They agreed that their priority issue was to address the use of paediatric formulation toothpastes.  It was noted that the Ad-hoc Committee will review issues relating to fluoride toothpaste and the role of the Oral Health Care Industry in this regard (Forum on Fluoridation Report 2002 Recommendation 3).

•	It was noted that the Ad-hoc Sub-committee has requested information from the Oral Health Care Industry on recent research data in relation to paediatric toothpastes.

•	A media monitoring report was given by the Secretariat.  

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:

•	That Sub-committee thanked the Oral Health Services Research Centre in Cork for hosting the NEI Sub-committee meeting on 17th October 2006 and for their hospitality.

•	Correspondence relating to Water Fluoridation in Ireland was noted (letter from the Chairman of the Expert Body to the Health Supplement of the Irish Times published on 21/11/06) in response to articles in the Irish Times Health Supplement.

EB Minute 50/06:  Report of Executive Committee

•	A written Report on the Executive Committee’s meeting with the DOH&C was tabled at the meeting.

•	National Fluoride Information Centre (NFIC), UK “Researching Water Fluoridation; Evaluation & Surveillance” on 31st January 2007 in the University of Manchester.  It was agreed that members will advise the Secretariat if they wish to attend this meeting.

•	The Expert Body Business Plan – Progress Report and Financial Projections 2007-2010 was noted.  This document will now be submitted to the Department of Health and Children.

•	Draft Risk Management Strategy for the Expert Body: It was agreed that each Sub-committee will review their own areas of expertise and identify the associated risks and feedback to the Secretariat. Following this a draft Risk Management Strategy will go before a future Plenary Meeting for approval in February.

EB Minute 51/06:  National Surveys of Children and Adults Oral Health (2002)

•	Dr Helen Whelton, Director, Oral Health Services Research Centre, Cork presented the results of the National Surveys of Children and Adults Oral Health (2002) to the Expert Body.

•	It was noted that the official launch of the Children’s Survey by the Minister for Health and Children, Ms Mary Harney, TD, is scheduled for 14th December 2006, to be followed by the official launch of the Adult Dental Health Survey results in 2007.

EB Minute 52/06:  AOB

•	The Report from the Advisory Science Council ‘Towards Better Health: Achieving a Step Change in Health Research in Ireland’ was noted, it was agreed to refer this Report to the New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee for their review.

•	The Environmental Protection Agency’s Report, The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland, was noted and it was agreed to assign this report to the QA Sub-committee for review in reference to the Code of Practice.

•	It was noted that the Department of Health and Children draft infant formula guidelines will be made available to the Expert Body for their information when available.

EB Minute 53/06:  Expert Body Plenary Meeting 

The next Plenary Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 28th February 2007 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 01:00pm.

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________