Irene Vorrink
Encyclopedia
Irene Vorrink was a PvdA politician. She was Minister of Health in the cabinet Den Uyl
(1973–1977).
She was born on January 7, 1918 in The Hague as the daughter of the Dutch socialist leader Koos Vorrink
. She studied law until 1943 and held several legal functions, before she became a member of the Senate for the PvdA in 1969.
In 1973 she became Minister of Health in the cabinet Den Uyl. A major issue was the legislation concerning drug
s, which she achieved in 1976 together with Minister of Justice, Dries van Agt
. The Netherlands has since then employed a distinction between hard and soft drugs
.
She also took the leading role in attempting to establish a legal basis for the fluoridation
of drinking water. Though fluoridation to prevent tooth decay had been occurring in many areas across the Netherlands for years, the Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that it should be specifically provided for in the Water Supply law. Her bill to do so did not find support in the House of Representatives outside her own party, and was dropped.
From 1978 until 1979 Vorrink was an alderman
in the municipality of Amsterdam
.
Netherlands cabinet Den Uyl
The Den Uyl cabinet was a Dutch left-wing cabinet under prime minister Joop den Uyl with ministers from PvdA, PPR, D66, KVP and ARP. The last two parties were actually moderately right-wing, but left-wing elements within these parties supported cabinet den Uyl to create a left-wing majority...
(1973–1977).
She was born on January 7, 1918 in The Hague as the daughter of the Dutch socialist leader Koos Vorrink
Koos Vorrink
Jacobus Jan Vorrink, better known as Koos Vorrink , was a charismatic socialist leader in the Netherlands.- Early life :Koos Vorrink was born on June 7, 1891 in Vlaardingen, in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland....
. She studied law until 1943 and held several legal functions, before she became a member of the Senate for the PvdA in 1969.
In 1973 she became Minister of Health in the cabinet Den Uyl. A major issue was the legislation concerning drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
s, which she achieved in 1976 together with Minister of Justice, Dries van Agt
Dries van Agt
Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from December 19, 1977, until November 4, 1982....
. The Netherlands has since then employed a distinction between hard and soft drugs
Hard and soft drugs
Hard and Soft drugs are terms to distinguish between psychoactive drugs that are addictive and perceived as especially damaging and drugs that are believed to be non-addictive and with fewer dangers associated with their use...
.
She also took the leading role in attempting to establish a legal basis for the fluoridation
Water fluoridation
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water has fluoride at a level that is effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding fluoride...
of drinking water. Though fluoridation to prevent tooth decay had been occurring in many areas across the Netherlands for years, the Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that it should be specifically provided for in the Water Supply law. Her bill to do so did not find support in the House of Representatives outside her own party, and was dropped.
From 1978 until 1979 Vorrink was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in the municipality of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.