John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 319: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the fact that the US scientist invited to present the case against fluoridation has strongly criticised her Department for being unfamiliar with the relevant science and thus unable to answer the 50 reasons to oppose fluoridation as promised, and has further accused her Department of hiding behind anonymous postings on her Department's website, her views on whether the policy is unsustainable and must be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5467/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 320: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to protect children by ordering an immediate suspension of fluoridation in view of the ridicule heaped on the Irish expert body on fluorides and health, whose 2005 action plan was endorsed, in a recent medical journal and in particular its failure after three years to implement a single one of the recommendations of the fluoridation forum and considering the growing evidence of an epidemic of dental fluorosis in children. [5468/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I intend to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.

As the Deputy is aware, a forum on fluoridation was established to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The forum report's main conclusion was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure.

The forum also concluded that water fluoridation has been very effective in improving the oral health of the Irish population, especially children but also adults and the elderly; the best available and most reliable scientific evidence indicates that at the maximum permitted level of fluoride in drinking water at one part per million, human health is not adversely affected; and dental fluorosis, a form of discolouration of the tooth enamel, is a well recognised condition and an indicator of overall fluoride absorption, whether from natural sources, fluoridated water or from the inappropriate use of fluoride toothpaste at a young age.

The forum recognised that there has been some increase in the incidence of mild dental fluorosis in Ireland. Most dental fluorosis is only detectable by dentists. The forum considered the US scientist's document entitled "50 reasons to oppose fluoride". The forum undertook to respond to the document but the report of the forum was finalised before it had time to respond. My Department agreed, at the request of the forum, to commission the oral health services research centre in Cork to compile a response to the document "50 reasons to oppose fluoride". The comprehensive response to that document was published on my Department's website on 4 May 2005.

The forum recommended fluoridation be reduced to 0.8 parts per million in the Irish context. An expert body was established to oversee the implementation of its recommendations. The Irish expert body on fluorides and health was set up in 2004. The terms of reference for the expert body are to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the forum on fluoridation; to advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research, including new emerging issues, on all aspects of fluoride and its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required; and to report to the Minister on matters of concern at his/her request or on its own initiative.

As part of its work in implementing the recommendations of the forum, the expert body examined what amendments may be required to the regulations, under the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960, to give effect to the forum's recommendation to reduce the level of fluorides in the public water supplies. The expert body has reported its findings to my Department. My Department is taking the necessary steps to introduce a new regulation.

Fluoridation of public water supplies as a public health measure is accepted as being one of the most effective methods of ensuring against tooth decay. The World Health Organisation, WHO, recommends fluoridation of public water supplies and has stated that "fluoridation of water supplies, where possible, is the most effective public health measure for the prevention of dental decay". The WHO has also stated that "people of all ages, including the elderly, benefit from community water fluoridation".

The recently completed survey of oral health, covering the whole island of Ireland, shows that fluoridation of public water supplies continues to be a highly effective public health measure. It has contributed significantly to a major reduction in the incidence of dental decay in the Republic of Ireland.

The research carried out shows that, at the levels of usage of fluoride in the Republic of Ireland's public water supply, there is no risk to health. Fluoridation of the water supply in Ireland is currently limited to a maximum of one part per million. In this regard, the WHO and the European Union have identified that fluoridation levels below 1.5 parts per million are acceptable.