Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The lariam debate is controversial and has been for many years. I remember taking lariam at one point when I went to travelling in Africa, and having the debate with my doctor on this issue, so it is not new.

The Deputy will be aware that malaria is a very serious disease which kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a grave threat to any military force operating in that area. In the decade of deployment to sub-Saharan Africa by the Defence Forces, not a single member of the Defence Forces has died from malaria. The anti-malaria regime in place in the Defence Forces includes the use of lariam, and I would contend it is working.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, formerly the Irish Medicines Board, is the statutory authority with responsibility for quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland. The Defence Forces policy in regard to the use of anti-malaria medication is in line with current HPRA guidelines.

The Defence Forces are fully aware of the range of reported side effects attaching to all anti-malarial medications. Significant precautions are taken by the Medical Corps in assessing the medical suitability of members of the Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications, all of which have some side effects. There are three anti-malarial drugs licensed by the HPRA in use in the Defence Forces, lariam, malarone and doxycycline.

It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness and medical suitability for service overseas, including a medical risk assessment for lariam.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Where malaria has been identified as a risk in a particular mission area, the choice of chemoprophylaxis medication is dependent on a number of factors, including the type of malaria in the destination, resistance to particular drugs, the profile of the traveller - contra-indications, underlying health conditions and purpose of travel - the duration of travel and adherence issues. The choice of medication is a medical decision made by medical officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.

Former Ministers for Defence have had the various allegations surrounding the use of lariam investigated thoroughly and obtained the advice of leading medical experts, who concur with the prescribing practices followed by the Defence Forces. Anti-malarial medications, including the use of lariam, must remain in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by this highly dangerous disease.

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