Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Nobody has died from malaria on operations, but how many have died by suicide because of the effects of Lariam? A study has been conducted of suicides in the Defence Forces.

I have a note taken from the medical records of one of the soldiers who operated overseas. It states the evidence presented in the report establishes a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the person's earlier symptoms of depression were the result of the person's initial intoxication by Lariam and that the person is now suffering from a range of chronic neurological and psychiatric symptoms, including seizure disorder, as well as persistent symptoms of disordered balance, dizziness, anxiety, paranoia, trouble in sleeping and cognitive dysfunction that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, were caused as a direct result of the neurotoxic effects of Lariam. The Minister of State cannot have soldiers operating while being prescribed Lariam in the way that has happened in the Defence Forces. Will he instruct the military authorities to re-examine this matter and concentrate on using more expensive drugs such as Malarone or dioxolane which are available in abundance but which seem to be issued to officers rather than non-commissioned officers?

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