Whatever the actual risks for EU-national mothers in Irish hospitals, if their babies are fed infant formula, it will contain amounts of fluoride that are neither safe nor medically legal in other EU member states. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (‘FSAI’) guide of 19th Nov 2012 (1) recommends Irish tap water be used to make up baby bottles even though this is totally at odds with safety... 

After Justice Minister Alan Shatter yesterday promised legislation to allow reporting of hitherto secret decisions in children’s courts, it is now incumbent on health minister Dr James Reilly to commit to rescind the similarly secretive and outdated Fluoridation Act of 1963 before the Referendum on Children’s rights on Sat 10th November 2012. “Unless the government commits to rescind the discredited...