Minutes of proceedings of the Plenary Meeting of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health held in the Conference Room, Corrigan House, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 on Wednesday, 11th November 2009

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Dr Brian O’Herlihy (Vice-Chair), ,Councillor Jack Bourke, Mr Peter Henshaw, Mr Colm Keenan, Mr Michael Kilcoyne, Professor John Clarkson Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Joe Mullen, Dr Máire O’Connor, Mr Ray Parle

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

Apologies:	Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr Rowland Reece, Ms Martina Queally

EB Minute 14/09:  Apologies
Apologies for the meeting were noted.
A vote of condolences was passed unanimously to Professor Denis O’Mullane on the death of his brother.

EB Minute 15/09:  Minutes of the last meeting (25th March 2009)
These minutes were agreed and were then signed by the Chairman.

EB Minute 16/09:  Matters Arising
It was noted that as soon as the Department’s Estimates are examined the Minister for Health and Children will revisit the National Oral Health Policy.

It was noted that “Osteoporosis & Irish Hip Fracture Database” will be included on the NEI Agenda for the December Meeting to review any evidence between this and water fluoridation.

It was noted that the Expert Body made a submission to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to a National Data Strategy on Children’s lives.

It was noted that substantial time is spent by the Secretariat and Expert Body members in drafting responses to queries from members of the public regarding water fluoridation. It was further noted that these requests for information should not come under FOI and it was suggested that the addition of an FAQ Section to the Expert Body website might address this time consuming issue.

EB Minute 17/09:  Correspondence
Correspondence was noted from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman, the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer, Public Health Division, DOH&C on 8th September 2009 in relation to Membership of the Expert Body

Email correspondence was noted from Mr Peter Henshaw, Dental Unit, Department of Health and Children to Dr O’Hickey 11th September 2009 in response to the query on Membership of the Expert Body. 
It was noted that there is a vacancy arising within the Department in relation to the post of Dental Advisor.

Correspondence from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman, the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to Mr Chris Fitzgerald on 14th August 2009 regarding the submission made by the Expert Body to SCHER concerning water fluoridation in Ireland.

Correspondence from the European Commission, 4th March 2008, to Ms Simona Dianiskova, then President, Council of European Chief Dental Officers regarding Directive 2007/53/EC was noted.

Email correspondence from Ms Gigliola Fontanesi, SANCO SC8 Secretariat, 2nd July 2009 to Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman, the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides thanking for contributions to the call for information from SCHER was noted.

Correspondence from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, 9th July 2009 to the European Commission – Health & Consumer Protection DG was noted. 

Correspondence from Mr Kevin Flanagan to Mr Michael Scanlon, Secretary General, Department of Health and Children, July 2009, regarding the use of Hydrofluosilicic Acid in Ireland’s water supply was noted.

Correspondence from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, 14th August 2009, to Ms Sheila Jones regarding her retirement from the British Fluoridation Society.

Correspondence from Mr Brian Gallagher, Associate, TOBIN Consulting Engineers, 22nd May 2009 to Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Director Secretariat, Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health regarding the National Audit of Water Treatment Plants was noted.

Correspondence from Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Director Secretariat, Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, 24th June 2009 to Mr Martin Devine, Assistant National Director, Population Health – Environmental Health – HSE regarding the National Audit of Water Treatment Plants was noted.

EB Minute 18/09:  Future Role of the Expert Body
The future structure of the Expert Body was noted and it was agreed to forward the document to
the Department of Health and Children.
It was proposed and adopted that a representative from the Department of Health and Children
be on the Executive Committee.

EB Minute 19/09:  EU Directive, Commission Directive 2007/53/EC of 29 August 2007
It was noted that there has been no feed back from the Department of Health & Children regarding Commission Directive 2007/53/EC of 29 August 2007.
It was further noted that there has been an amended EU Commission Directive 2009/129/EC of 9 October 2009, it was agreed that this does not change the position of the Expert Body regarding Recommendation 3 and Commission Directive 2007/53/EC of 29 August 2007.
The submission made by the Expert Body as requested by SCHER was noted.
The draft Agenda for the Plenary Meeting of SCHER to be held 9th November and the Minutes from the SCHER Working Group Meeting held 10th September were noted.
It was further noted that preliminary opinion will be published for public consultation by end March 2010.

EB Minute 20/09: New Programme for Government
Correspondence from Dr Seamus O’Hickey, Chairman, Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to Mr Martin Devine requesting an update on the Bio-Monitoring Programme was noted.
It was noted that the award of the contract for the Baseline Research was delayed and could not be awarded due to lack of funding from the Department of Health and Children.
The report “Action Plan for Health Research 2009 – 13”, Health Research Board (HRB) was noted. It was proposed that the Expert Body would write to the HRB outlining the IEB’s priorities for research.

EB Minute 21/09: National Audit of Water Treatment Plants
The final draft report was noted and it was agreed that it would be reviewed by Dr Wayne Anderson and then by both the QA Sub-Committee and the NEI Sub-Committee.

EB Minute 22/09: Tendering Committee for Supply and Delivery of Hydrofluosilicic Acid
It was noted that a new contract has been agreed and signed for the supply and delivery of HFSA. Ms Etain Kett of the Secretariat was thanked for representing the Expert Body on the Tendering Committee.

EB Minute 23/09: Report of the Sub-committees
The Quality Assurance Sub-committee reported the following:
•	It was noted that discussions were held between the HSE and the Public Analyst Laboratory and that it is expected that the Independent Testing of HFSA will commence in the near future. 
•	It was noted that the Tendering Committee for the Supply and Delivery of Hydrofluosilicic Acid negotiated the new contract. It was further noted that the existing price will remain for the 1st year and that there will only be a slight increase for the remainder of the contract. 
•	An update was noted regarding the Kilkenny Audit Report and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown in relation to the National Audit of Water Fluoridation Treatment Plants.
•	A PQ regarding the National Audit was noted.
•	It was noted that a communications plan regarding the National Audit will be considered by the QA Sub-Committee
•	It was noted that many of the local authorities have already proceeded in resolving non-compliances. It was further noted that the HSE have supplied funding from the current calendar year for this purpose.
•	It was noted that there was no update in relation to the HSE National Fluoridation Steering Committee other than a meeting will take place in the near future.

The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported the following:
•	An update on the latest papers/documents reviewed by the NEI was given.
•	It was noted that the NEI Sub-Committee will review information in relation to bio-monitoring when it is received from the HSE.
•	It was noted that Professor Denis O’Mullane will give a report of the 87th IADR Meeting at the next NEI Sub-Committee Meeting.
•	It was noted in relation to issue of high levels of lead in the water in Dundalk that Louth County Council did not suspend water fluoridation as risk assessments on impacts of fluoroapatites on water users showed no adverse health impacts on Public Health.
•	It was noted that new guidelines issued by the European Association of Paediatric Dentistry  for the use of fluoridated toothpaste will be reviewed by the NEI Sub-Committee. It was further noted by Dr Seamus O’Hickey that an article in relation to this was published in the Irish Dentist, July 2009
•	It was noted that the results of the study carried out by Dr Chester Douglas of Harvard University have been delayed as all of the ethical issues are being examined.
•	It was noted that the consumption of fluoridated tap water has not been included in the National Adult Nutritional Survey.
•	The definition of Water Poverty was noted in “The Utility Regulator’s Social Action Plan 2009 – 2014”

EB Minute 24/09:  Report of Executive Committee
•	The Report on the Executive Committee’s meeting held on 27th August 2009 was noted. 
•	It was noted that Dr Seamus O’Hickey is waiting for feedback from the Department of Health and Children in relation to representation at CECDO Meetings
•	It was agreed that Mr Peter Henshaw, Department of Health and Children will follow-up in relation to the Forum on Fluoridation website.
•	It was noted that there have been no comments in relation to the Expert Body on “Sidewiki”
•	An acknowledgement by Mr Denis Lyons in relation to the work of the Executive Committee was noted.
•	A vote of condolences was passed unanimously to Professor Denis O’Mullane on the death of his brother
•	Relevant media alerts were noted and it was further noted that accurate reporting of the results of the National Audit was important and that the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government should be fully briefed before the publication of the final report.
•	It was noted that an article in the Irish Dentist, July 2009 stated that “Northern Ireland children pay the price for fluoride-free water with high rates of decayed teeth, chief nursing officer Martin Bradley warned at a conference held at Queen’s University Belfast in May.”
•	It was noted that the Council of European Dentists welcomed the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s public consultation on fluoride.

EB Minute 25/09:  EADPH Meeting 2009
A briefing was given by Dr Joe Mullen in relation to the 14th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Dental Public Health (EADPH)
It was further noted how invalid comparisons might be made in relation to the effectiveness of water fluoridation due to the reporting in Norway of caries using the amount of “Drill and Fill” procedures carried out.

EB Minute 26/09:  Strategies to Prevent Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents
It was noted that the Guidelines do not cover systemic fluoride delivery systems.
It was further noted that the guidelines in relation to toothbrushing are different to those of the Expert Body and that they will be considered by the NEI Sub-Committee in relation to Recommendation 3.

EB Minute 27/09:  AOB
Dr Joe Mullen was thanked for his representation of the Expert Body on “The Mooney Show”. Dr Mullen stated that it was important to provide information to the public and suggested that a panel should be available for this purpose. It was agreed to refer this matter to the Executive Committee.
It was noted that “Osteosarcoma in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland”, June 29 2009 is available on the Expert Body website.
It was noted that it has been agreed to publish drinking water data on local authority websites as part of the development of a Drinking Water Incident Response Plan.
A Memorandum from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Canada) to the Medical Officers of Health, Associate Medical Officers of Health re the “Value of Water Fluoridation” was noted

EB Minute 28/09:  Date of Next Meeting
The dates for Plenary Meetings 2010 were agreed as follows, Wednesday 24th March and Wednesday 10th November 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 1:00pm

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________