Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the history of the report and its terms of reference but I want to see it. It was promised that we would have the report in January this year. Everything has changed utterly and radically on this subject since the last Dáil. At the end of last month the British Defence Select Committee published a highly critical report that recommended banning the use of Lariam by Ministry of Defence personnel.

It stated that at the very least it should be the drug of last resort. We know that Lariam is the third line of choice for the US army in sub-Saharan Africa. Its use is banned in the US Special Forces. We know that members of the Australian defence forces who have been diagnosed as suffering side effects from the use of Lariam can claim compensation and have received an apology. This is critically urgent. We are endangering the lives of those who serve in our Defence Forces. Lariam's use is against best medical practice.

I met a man at the protest on Saturday. He had served in Lebanon and been shot in the leg. He served in Kosovo, where he dug up bodies, but did not receive any counselling. He then went to Liberia. He was prescribed Lariam and has suffered dreadful side effects. He suffers from deep depression and psychological problems. This is critically urgent in order to stop other people suffering as a result of it. We need to see the report and we need to stop using Lariam. Stopping its use will put us in line with best medical practice.

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