Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, a number of cases of litigation are taking place at the moment and I will not comment on individual cases or who had or did not have face-to-face consultations. The military authorities have assured me that significant precautions are taken by Defence Forces medical officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of the Defence Forces to take any anti-malaria medication. I understand that to be face-to-face consultation.

The first priority is the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces who are serving abroad. The death rate figures for malaria are startling - some 438,000 in 2015 alone in sub-Saharan Africa. That is not a risk I want to take. I depend on the advice given to me by the chief medical officer of the Irish Defence Forces.

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