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

I want to set the record straight on something I consider very important. We are not continuing the use of lariam because of legal cases that are being taken. We are continuing the use of lariam in the Defence Forces to ensure we have a responsible approach towards ensuring members of the Defence Forces do not contract malaria. We are acting on the advice of the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the former Irish Medicines Board, as most people will know it.

I am not a qualified doctor either but I took medical advice before I took lariam. Luckily, I did not have any side effects from it and I did not contract malaria either, and I have been to Africa many times. The Defence Forces are making decisions on the basis of the best medical advice that is available in Ireland and in terms of the best and most effective way of protecting our Defence Forces when they are operating in a country that has malaria. That is the only motivation here. If we get a change of recommendation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority, we will act on that, regardless of court cases. The only priority for me is protecting our Defence Forces and to ensure we do everything we can to protect them when they are in a difficult environment abroad. Malaria is a big part of that because we have a lot of troops in Africa.

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