Brian O'Shea
Question:66 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received the report of the Forum on Fluoridation; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5783/02]
Vol. 549 No. 1
66 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received the report of the Forum on Fluoridation; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5783/02]
80 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report of the Forum on Water Fluoridation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5908/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 80 together.
I established the Forum on Fluoridation in May 2000. The forum is comprised largely of persons with expert knowledge spanning the areas of public health, dental health, food safety, environmental protection, ethics, water quality, health promotion and representatives from the consumer and environmental areas. The forum held its first meeting in September 2000.
The terms of reference of the forum are as follows: to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies and the programme of research being undertaken on behalf of health boards in the area and to report to the Minister. The forum invited members of the public to forward their views on the issues under consideration and received in excess of 1,000 submissions, each of which has been examined individually.