Water Fluoridation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2013

Thursday, 18 April 2013

Ceisteanna (249)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

249. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the report prepared (details supplied) regarding findings and observations on fluoride by the US National Research Council, examined within the context of a comparison of population health and disease burdens, between the fluoridated Republic of Ireland and non-fluoridated Northern Ireland and Europe; and the steps he intends to take as a result of this research [18163/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The report to which the Deputy refers was not commissioned by the Government or the World Health Organisation. It was received by the Minister in 2012 and referred to the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health for examination. The Expert Body concluded that the report is not reliable. The Expert Body's Appraisal and an Executive Summary of the Appraisal are available on the Expert Body's website, www.fluoridesandhealth.ie. The Expert Body is satisfied that water fluoridation, at its optimal level, causes no ill effects to the health of adults or children. The effects of fluoridation on health and related matters are kept under constant review.