Vol. 522 No. 3
18 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons (details supplied) were not adequately consulted on their supposed membership of the forum on water fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18422/00]
22 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if the forum on water fluoridation has met yet; when the forum is expected to report; if the consent of all those named as members of the forum had been secured prior to the announcement of 29 May 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18541/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 22 together.
On 29 May 2000 I announced the establishment of the Forum on Fluoridation with terms of reference: to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies and the programme of research being undertaken on behalf of the health boards in the area and to report to me, as Minister for Health and Children.
The forum will also invite submissions from the public. Before announcing the establishment of the Forum on Fluoridation, my officials contacted each person concerned. All of those contacted agreed, in principle, to participate in the forum. It was explained at that point that a formal letter of invitation would issue at a later date. The persons to whom the Deputy refers, who are patrons of an environmental group, requested further information concerning the work and make up of the forum. My officials are responding to their requests. I would like to stress that it is crucial that both pro and anti-fluoridation points of view are heard and discussed in depth by the forum.
My Department has also invited the environmental group to nominate an additional representative and a response is awaited. Following representations, the Consumers' Association of Ireland has been invited to nominate a representative to work on the forum. On receipt of these nominations, which are expected shortly, I will confirm the invitation to each person on the membership list.
After that, it will be a matter for the chairman, Professor Pat Fottrell, to contact each member of the forum to arrange a suitable date for their first meeting. It is expected that the forum will need a year to report fully, with an interim report due by the end of this year. I expect that the first meeting of the forum will take place in July.
