Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the members of the Action Lariam for Irish Soldiers group, the Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces group and PDFORRA who are in the Gallery and watching this debate on television. I believe that a large number of people around the country are paying careful attention to what is being discussed in the House.

In light of issues of muscle ache, memory problems, mood changes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, hallucination and suicidal ideation, it is clear that Lariam is a little pill that can have big side effects. In 2013, RTE's investigations unit found that the members of the forces surveyed who had used Lariam were three to five times more likely than others to take their lives. The Minister of State reported that no serving member of the Defence Forces had died from malaria, but how many does he reckon might have died from this anti-malarial? That was a factor.

Information has been laid before the House about the number of military establishments around the globe that have either banned Lariam or made it into a drug of last resort. The US, the UK, Australia and Germany are among them. The UK's Defence Select Committee referred to Lariam as a drug with a high risk profile and that it should only be prescribed to those who were unable to take any of the available alternatives. The Ministry of Defence in the UK has acknowledged that 1,000 ex-military personnel are suffering severe psychiatric problems as a result of Lariam. The United Nations guidelines are clear and indicate that an alternative drug or drugs should be provided for personnel who are sensitive to Lariam.

I wish to ask the Minister of State a direct question. The next time that he visits troops in sub-Saharan Africa and is in need of anti-malarials, will he take Lariam? People who lead organisations should be prepared to do themselves what they expect the rank and file to do. They should not expect them to do what the leaders are not prepared to do.

I have a further question for the Minister of State. Is it the case that officers in the Defence Forces who go to sub-Saharan Africa and who are in need of anti-malarials are offered a choice?

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