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

Regardless of what I say here, the Deputy will not be satisfied. An ongoing review is taking place which takes into account the experience of Irish troops. That is the point of it. It aims to achieve results that ensure our troops do not get malaria and to assess what side effects there have been for our troops and for people like Mark. I will act, but on the basis of medical advice, as opposed to what Deputy Daly is demanding.

There are differing views in the context of the private sector, as the Deputy termed it. When I used Lariam, it was given to me by my local GP. It was not a public policy issue. There are varying views and no easy solutions to protect our troops from malaria. I believe that putting together an expert group that is not influenced by the politics of this issue but that wants to make a decision based on the medical facts available at home and abroad is the right way to go, and that is what we are going to do.

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