Response : Sean Kyne vs Flouride!

[Cabria YellowFlame]

After emailing a bunch of TDs (I'm getting around to them in batches) about water flouridation*, I got an email from Sean Kyne in Galway today.
Here's what he said:

My apologies for the delay in replying to your email - it was filed in a different folder which I found as I took the opportunity this morning to check through my email account.

I have met groups and concerned citizens in relation to the fluoridation of Irish water supplies and I have to say I'm not at all sure why the practice is continuing given the insignificance of the benefits in terms of the possible effects.

Since last year I have raised this issue and tabled parliamentary questions, specifically on the contract to actually fluoridate the water. I was informed of the following:

"The Health Service Executive (HSE) is the body charged with the fluoridation of public water supplies, as provided for in the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960. Local authorities undertake fluoridation on an agency basis for the HSE. The current supplier of hydrofluosilicic acid, the chemical used for fluoridating water, was selected following a formal EU tendering process. The contract began on 1 November 2009 for a minimum period of 36 months with the option to extend by a further 24 months. In 2010 the HSE spent approximately €4.78 million on fluoridation, of which approximately €1.36 million was spent on hydrofluorosilicic acid."

So, it would appear that there is an upcoming opportunity to end this practice which would bring to an end the concerns of so many citizens while also avoiding any costly legal ramifications of withdrawing from a binding contract. I will contact Minister Reilly to impart your views and those of the other constituents who have contacted me and to also raise the issue of the ending of the current contract.

Best regards,

Seán.

Seán Kyne TD

Fine Gael - Galway West

Spiddal Road,
Moycullen,
Co. Galway.

*Based on the template letter ~ AND REFERENCES document ~ by IAMPhilip777 on his blog post, 'Flouride Action Alert'.