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, 23rd February 2005

Present:	Dr Seamus O’Hickey (Chairman), Councillor Jack Bourke, Professor John Clarkson, Dr Gerard Gavin, Mr Denis Lyons, Mr Stephen McDermott, Dr Joe Mullen, Dr Brian O’Herlihy, Professor Denis O’Mullane, Mr Darragh Page, Mr Ray Parle, Ms Martina Queally, Mr Luke Varley

In attendance:  Ms Deirdre Sadlier, Ms Patricia Gilsenan, Secretariat

Apologies:	Dr Wayne Anderson, Dr Paul Beirne, Professor William Binchy, Mr Greg Canning, Mr Enda Falvey, Ms Dorothy Gallagher, Ms Ursula O’Dwyer, Mr Rowland Reece, Mr Matt Twomey

EB Minute 8/05:  Agenda Item 1:  Expert Body Minutes

Amendment:
An amendment to the Minutes (tabled item 1, 23/02/05) proposed by Professor O’Mullane and Dr Beirne was adopted.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24th November 2004 were approved and signed by the Chairman (Dr Brian O’Herlihy).

EB Minute 9/05:  Agenda Item 2: Matters Arising from the Minutes

Minute 2, 24/11/04
The meeting was informed that the critique of Professor Connett’s document ’50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation’ would be available to the members in due course.  

Minute 4, 24/11/04
The Chairman supported the nominations of Ms Queally of the Communications/Public Health/Health Promotion Sub-committee and Dr Joe Mullen of the New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee as Chairs of the respective Sub-committees.  These nominations were carried unamiously.

Minute 6, 24/11/04
The Secretariat informed the meeting that they are awaiting a response from the DOH&C in relation to the launch of the Mighty Mouth Schools Initiative.

EB Minute 10/05:  Agenda Item 3: Correspondence
•	Ref: The Health Service Executive, Shared Services – Eastern Region’s recent tender for ‘Supply and Delivery of Chemicals Used for Treatment of Water Intended for Human Consumption - Hydrofluosilicic Acid’ (HSE Shared Services Eastern Region letter to Expert Body on 21/01/05 refers).  The Secretariat informed the meeting that the Expert Body would be advised of progress on this issue.

•	Ref: ‘Use of Fluoride in the Promotion of Oral Health in the Republic of Ireland’ (Lot 2) Report (DOH&C letter Expert Body 22/02/05 refers).  It was agreed that the Secretariat will seek clarification on the Report’s status from the DOH&C.

EB Minute 11/05:  Agenda Item 4: Report of Secretariat

Agenda Item 4.1: Website development
Following the presentation of the draft Expert Body website by the Secretariat, it was agreed to take the Forum on Fluoridation website offline and post information on the Forum’s website home page redirecting users to the Expert Body website.  This action will be subject to further discussion with the DOH&C.

It was agreed that the Expert Body members would forward all suggested feedback and comments to the Secretariat within 7 working days (Friday, 4th March 2005).

The meeting also agreed that a Protocol will be put in place to oversee additions to the website content.

Agenda Item 4.2: Resources update
The Secretariat informed the meeting that advertisements for the positions of Project Officers, Quality Assurance and Knowledge and Communications had been placed in the national newspapers with a closing date of 25/03/05.  Recruitment to these posts will be in line with the Dental Health Foundation’s Human Resources Policy.

EB Minute 12/05:  Agenda Item 5: Budget

It was agreed that the budget would be an item on the Executive Committee’s agenda at their meeting which was scheduled to follow today’s Plenary meeting.  It was further agreed that Expert Body members travel expenses would be discussed at the Executive Committee meeting.

The Secretariat clarified that the DOH&C funding allocation of Secretariat costs was inclusive of the Project Officers’ salaries from April to December 2005.

EB Minute 13/05:  Agenda Item 6: Report of the Sub-committees

The Chairs of each Sub-committee reported to the meeting on work in progress and on priority issues relative to their remit.  This was followed by a discussion on each report.  These presentations were supported by documentation which was tabled at the meeting.

In particular the New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee reported that Ms O’Dwyer has joined their committee.
The New and Emerging Issues Sub-committee proposed that the Expert Body has as its priority strategies for reducing dental fluorosis in particular “the lowering of the fluoride level in drinking water to a range of 0.6 to 0.8ppm, with a target of 0.7ppm.  (Forum on Fluoridation Report (2002)).  This was agreed unamiously by the members.

It was agreed that the Executive Committee would discuss the appropriateness of financial support for meetings deemed relevant to the remit of the Expert Body by its members.

It was agreed that each Sub-committee should consider aspects of salt and the use of fluorides that are relevant to their remit and report back at the next Plenary meeting.

EB Minute 14/05:  Agenda Item 7:  Update on Executive Committee

The Chairs of each Sub-committee, Mr McDermott, Ms Queally and Dr Mullen were elected to the Executive Committee.

EB Minute 15/05:  Agenda Item 8:  Any Other Business

The meeting was informed that all Expert Body members would receive formal invitations from the DOH&C to the Dental Research update seminar scheduled for April 2005.

The remit of the Expert Body and the roles of the HSE and HIQA recently announced will be discussed further by the Executive Committee.  

The meeting was advised that an interview panel has been formed comprising of the following representation: an Expert Body member, a Dental Health Foundation representative and an external agency representative.  It was agreed to leave this item open for further discussion at the Executive Committee meeting.

It was agreed that the Executive Committee seek a meeting with the DOH&C at which funding would be an item on the agenda.

Dr Gerard Gavin requested that he be either referred to as Dr Gerard Gavin or Dr Ger Gavin in all documentation and correspondence relating to the Expert Body.

EB Minute 16/05:  Agenda Item 9:  Date of Next Meeting

The next Plenary meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 27th April 2005 commencing at 10:30am.  The venue will be the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2.

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

Signed:	______________________________

Date: 		______________________________