Dr. Dympna Kavanagh:

I will begin with the question on water fluoridation and probably will link in with some of my colleagues on that. From a policy perspective, as we stated, water fluoridation remains a cornerstone of the policy because it is the single most influential change in the improvement of our oral health and that has been monitored since it was introduced in the 1960s.

More recently, a Health Research Board study was commissioned known as Fluoride And Caring for Children's Teeth, FACCT, which was set up expressly to look at the impact of this, and whether it still is as impactful as it was before. The outcomes are that it is and there is a distinct difference between children who receive fluoridated water and those who do not, in both the severity and distribution of their disease.

In addition, the Department itself also commissioned a separate study directly with the Health Research Board to look at the benefits and risks because concerns were coming from the public on risks. The Health Research Board produced a very clear evidence-based document and assessed all of the risks and the evidence underlying them. There is no evidence that there are risks associated but it does indicate that ongoing research and monitoring is necessary, which is why we have reappointed an expert body for fluorides in health in place. That deals with water fluoridation but does anybody else on the group here-----