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

I am more than aware of the ongoing British inquiry into the prescribing of Lariam by the British Ministry of Defence to its military personnel, to which the Deputy refers. Of course, we are going to watch what comes out of that but we also have to ensure we look at our own systems, whether in having a screening process or in ensuring we follow the best medical advice on prescribing the appropriate drug for the appropriate region and the appropriate strain of malaria. We try to manage risk as best we can when our Defence Forces personnel are going abroad, particularly on missions to sub-Saharan Africa. We have been doing this from the point of view of a screening process but we also have, separate to all that, a working group made up of international experts and they advise the Irish Government on the use of Lariam and all the issues around that, which understandably have been raised by people who have concerns. We will get an updated report from that working group in the coming weeks, and as soon as I have that, we will act on it. We have asked the group to look at international best practice and what is happening elsewhere, and to do this in a way that is non-political but purely about the safety of our Defence Forces personnel when they are abroad. That is my only motivation. I have heard many stories and met many people who have concerns and we will try to make decisions on the basis of good, sound advice when we get it. It is difficult for me to make decisions before the updated advice comes back to me, even though some people seem to expect me to do so.

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