Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has explained the increase in cost. I am concerned, however, that the Defence Forces still use Lariam. That is what baffles me. Other countries have stopped prescribing this drug and have apologised to the members of their respective defence forces for prescribing it to them in the first place. Why is Ireland not following suit? There are concerns regarding Lariam. I have spoken to personnel who have taken the drug. I have also spoken to people who have taken the drug and experienced no side effects, but that is no reason its use should fail to be stopped. My concern is that clear evidence is building up that this drug has caused problems for some personnel. Lariam should not be used if there is any possibility that it is going to have the adverse effects that it has had on many members of the Defence Forces. Those have included suicidal tendencies and breakdowns.

The Minister of State says he is acting on the 2013 recommendation of the working group on the issue but I have never seen those reports so I cannot make a call on them. Will the Minister of State agree to release those reports at some stage so we can understand why he is adopting the position he is?

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