Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

I do not know what is the nature of the assessment such that it will take three months to get it. Concerns have been raised about the ability or professional status of those who have reviewed this. Why does the Minister not consider the views of the troops involved and some of the people who have had direct experience and a negative reaction? Why can we not have open hearings similar to those that have been held in Australia on this issue, at which the testimony of those badly affected can be heard? People like Mark have had to spend a fortune on private medical opinion, which gives a very different interpretation of Lariam than the one the Minister has recounted, based on the advice given by his people. The delay on this is not good enough. We have been discussing this for years and, tragically, more people who have been given Lariam will probably have had negative reactions during that time.

Lariam is the subject of inquiries in Britain, Australia and other areas, but I see no urgency on the part of the Minister on this issue. The facts have been presented to his Department but we need more urgency.

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