Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The issue of the medication affecting fertility has not been brought to my notice at any point. I can have that matter checked for the Deputy. I understand that the blood test is carried out in the main to establish whether there would be any impacts of side effects from the potential effects of Lariam on the liver.

With regard to the prescribing of the medication, all personnel departing on a particular mission have the precautions relating to the use of Lariam, which I outlined in the initial part of my reply, applied to them. In other words, for three or four weeks before they leave, they are in receipt of this treatment and if they have any side effects in that period, they are either assessed in terms of they being relatively minor or assessed as being of such size that the person is deemed unfit to travel. That is the first level. I understand that on return personnel are also tested in that respect. It should also be noted that Lariam was approved first in 1989, and in 1996 and 2003 the Irish Medicines Board issued some additional information and advice on its use.

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