Water Fluoridation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

Questions (144)

Denis Naughten

Question:

144. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the membership of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health; the dates of its past five meetings; when it last provided advice to his office on the fluoridation of public water supplies; when the international group of consultants is to be appointed by the Government to examine the use of fluoride in the public water supply; the membership of the group; the timeline for producing its report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24856/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A range of information, including details of its membership and minutes of its meetings, is available on the website of the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, www.fluoridesandhealth.ie. The last five plenary meetings of the Expert Body were held on 12th March 2014, 16th October 2013, 26th June 2013, 6th March 2013 and 14th March 2012. There have also been meetings of the Executive Committee, the Quality Assurance Sub-Committee and the New and Emerging Issues Sub-Committee. The Expert Body provides advice to the Department of Health on an ongoing basis.

The Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population and on the environment is being conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department. The review will be completed by December 2014. There are no plans to establish a group as described by the Deputy.