asked the Minister for Health if he has seen in Dublin evening papers of 10th April last, which contained advertisements issued by his Department in favour of fluoridation, quotations from an authoritative book on food and drugs stating that all evidence available stamps the use of fluorides as preservatives as an abominable practice, as even in small doses they have been shown to have deleterious effects on bone and blood; and if he will now reconsider the whole matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fluoridation Advertisements.
2.
Mr. Ryan
I have seen the letter, published in certain of the Dublin evening papers on 10th instant, which contains quotations as referred to by the Deputy, stated to be taken from a text book entitled "Analysis of Food and Drugs" by Moor and Partridge. None of the scientific libraries which I have consulted has been able to trace such a publication. The reference may, however, be to a text book entitled "Aids to Analysis of Food and Drugs" by T. H. Pearmain and G. C. Moor. The book was first published sixty-six years ago, in 1895. Subsequent editions appeared in 1899, 1909, 1918, 1934, 1942 and 1952. I have been unable to verify whether the passages quoted in the letter appeared in the earlier editions, which, being out-of-date, are no longer readily available. The passages do not occur in the later editions, presumably having been deleted in the light of advances in scientific knowledge if, in fact, they appeared at all in the earlier editions.
The foregoing information illustrates how inaccurate and misleading is much of the matter published in the correspondence columns of the newspapers by the small minority opposed to fluoridation, and how much expenditure of time and energy would be necessary to counter all such tendentious propaganda.
In reply to the last part of the question, I propose, in the interest of the dental health of children and of the community generally, to give effect as rapidly as possible to the will of the Oireachtas as expressed in the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act, 1961.
3.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health the total cost of the recent half page advertisements in the national newspapers publicising certain aspects of the fluoridation argument; and if he will allocate a similar amount of money to publicise the case against fluoridation.
A contract for the production and publication of this advertisement was placed with an advertising agency following the invitation of tenders. To state the cost of publishing the advertisement would be to disclose the amount of the tender accepted. This would be contrary to established practice.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The money in the relevant subhead of the Vote for my Department is provided to educate members of the public in relation to measures affecting their health and that of their families. It would be not only absurd but subversive to apply any part of it to encourage opposition to a procedure which the Oireachtas, by statutory enactment, has decided should be adopted for the protection of the health of the child-population in those areas where it is feasible to apply it.
Mr. Ryan
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's replies to Questions Nos. 2, 3, I desire, with the permission of the Chair, to raise the matter on the adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.