Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The answer is very simple. I understand the United States forces stopped using the medication owing to concerns about inadvertent prescribing to soldiers who should not take it. In this regard I am advised that the US authorities undertook mass administration of lariam for soldiers serving in areas subject to malaria without any individual screening of personnel. That is the difference between what the Defence Forces in this State do and what was occurring in the United States. The recommendation and protocols that apply here require the screening of each member of the Defence Forces with regard to the taking of lariam, to identify whether there are any contraindications that could give rise to an issue of concern.

Lariam is prescribed for a period of time prior to members of the Defence Forces going abroad on a mission in order to identify any reaction that might occur. The Defence Forces here do not mass prescribe, but follow all the instructions issued by the Irish Medicines Board in order to fully screen out personnel who may potentially have an adverse reaction to the medication. That is the crucial difference between us and the United States defence forces. In this context it is important to emphasise that this is about ensuring that members of our Defence Forces on UN missions do not contract malaria, which is crucial because one should never forget that malaria kills.

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