Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister knows, the statute of limitations provides for a period of two years but, often, the symptoms in regard to lariam present years afterwards. I am aware there are legal cases under way. My worry is that, rather than the State just acknowledging there is an issue, it will defend it to the last and continue to use lariam when there are other options available. It worries me that the United States armed forces have stopped the use of lariam. We know the array of advisers they have - multiples of what we have in Ireland - yet they have made that decision.

I am not a qualified scientist or pharmacist but it causes me concern that the reason we have not stopped the use of this drug is that we are going to defend legal cases and fight them all the way. My concern is that the outcome of this may be a damning indictment of this State.

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