Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the Defence (Amendment) Bill. This legislation will revive existing legislation on the deployment of military personnel overseas. One key issue of concern to military personnel subject to overseas deployment is the use of the anti-malarial drug, Lariam. Lariam was developed by the US army in the 1970s. Three years ago, on the back of increasing evidence of its psychiatric side effects, the US army said it is only to be used as a drug of last resort. The US Special Forces command has banned its use. Last month, the former head of the British army apologised to those soldiers who had been prescribed Lariam. The drug has now been withdrawn from sale to the public in a number of countries, including this State. PDFORRA states the Government is ignoring UN advice which recommends that an alternative drug be made available. Given there is now a substantial body of evidence on the harmful side effects of this drug, will the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence withdraw it from use? Will the Government give an undertaking that at the very least it will abide by UN guidelines in this respect?

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