Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Water Fluoridation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Ceisteanna (562)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

579 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health in accordance with maintaining impartiality in the advice provided by members of the expert body on fluoride and health, the reason the largest representation on the body is from the dental profession with five representatives as members of the Dental Health Foundation Ireland; the reason the body includes only one environmental health officer, one food scientist and one biochemist; the way a disproportionate number of members from only one profession can ensure impartiality in its advice with only three other independent specialists on the expert body; the reason other specialists including medical doctors, immunologists, biologists, ecologists or other specialists are not included in this expert body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32057/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health and its sub-committees have broad representation from areas such as dentistry, biochemistry, environmental health and public health medicine. The Expert Body also has a strong consumer input in terms of members of the public and representatives of consumer interests. The sub-committees of the Expert Body may also co-opt members as the need arises. Of the Expert Body's 17 members, 5 are members of the dental profession. These include a former Chief Dental Officer in my Department, two senior academics (one of whom is also a former Chief Dental Officer and one of whom is Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Dental Health Foundation) and two from the public health service, one of whom is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Dental Health Foundation. They have extensive experience in areas of public health, epidemiology, statistics, fluorides and health promotion. The Dental Health Foundation, a charitable trust supported by my Department and the HSE, does not have members.

In evaluating ongoing research on all aspects of fluoridation, the Expert Body accepts the fundamental scientific tenet that any single piece of scientific evidence by itself remains hypothetical unless it can be repeated or confirmed by other scientists. Therefore, it considers scientific evidence that has been submitted to examination by other scientists, usually by publication in recognised peer reviewed scientific journals, after such publication has been approved by independent referees. This ensures that the advice provided by the Expert Body is impartial and evidence-based.

Question No. 580 withdrawn.
Barr
Roinn