Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of suicides there have been in the Defence Forces since Lariam was first used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47270/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces who have committed suicide and had taken Lariam that have been reported to the Irish Medicines Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47272/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of persons who have committed suicide in the Defence Forces since Lariam was first used that were either taking Lariam or had taken Lariam in the past and if in the past, the date on which they had their last Lariam dose;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47271/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 57 and 66 together.

I am advised by the military authorities that the Defence Forces personnel management system does not capture data on the number of suicides in the Defence Forces during a specific period. In this context, the information requested regarding the number of suicide victims who were either taking Lariam or who had taken Lariam prior to committing suicide is not available.

Lariam is authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board, which is the statutory regulatory body charged with regulating the use of medicines to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines available in Ireland. Lariam was first authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board in 1989. The authorised product information provides details to ensure the safe and effective use of this medicinal product. While certain risks associated with the use of the drug were highlighted in drug safety newsletters in 1996 and 2003, the Irish Medicines Board remained of the view that the benefit-risk profile for the product remained acceptable. The Irish Medicines Board continues to review the safety of this and all medicines on an ongoing basis and updates the product information as appropriate.

In accordance with best practice in prescribing this medication and taking account of the contraindications, warnings and side effects highlighted by the Irish Medicines Board, the Defence Forces screen all personnel for medical suitability. The screening system automatically rules out personnel from overseas service with certain conditions such as depression, anxiety, neurodegenerative disorders and so on which, as has been indicated by the Irish Medicines Board, are more likely to precipitate serious adverse reactions to Lariam. Pregnant personnel also are excluded.

In the case of overseas missions to malarious areas, the medical screening involves an assessment of the individual's suitability to be prescribed the selected anti-malarial agent in line with current Irish Medicines Board guidelines. This typically involves review of the individual's previous experience, if any, with the medication. The individual's medical history is also screened for those conditions which have been identified as precipitating serious side effects in association with the medication. In addition, blood tests are carried out to ensure that the liver is healthy, as liver disease is an accepted contraindication to the use of Lariam.

It is the policy of the Defence Forces Medical Corps that personnel who are found suitable for Lariam should commence their medication three to four weeks in advance of their travel. The purpose of this precaution is twofold. While it allows a slow build-up of the medication in the bloodstream, it also permits assessment by the person of his or her individual reaction to the medication while still in Ireland. During this probationary period, the individual can consult a medical officer on any adverse reaction, minor or major. Some minor reactions may be transient but if persistent or troublesome, the individual will be deemed to have sensitivity to the medication and will be found not medically suitable for the mission.

The Defence Forces take all necessary precautions in assessing the suitability of personnel before prescribing Lariam in accordance with the prescribing instructions and information provided by the Irish Medicines Board. Personnel are screened both before and after deployments and all necessary actions are taken to ensure that those with contraindications to Lariam use are deemed unsuitable for overseas service and are not prescribed the medication.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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To revert to the original question regarding suicides, may I take it there is no record of the number of serving or former members of the Defence Forces who have committed suicide? If such information is not available, it is difficult to assess what role or part Lariam could have played in this regard. What exactly is the position with regard to the deaths of serving members? Is it a military function to establish the cause of death or that of a civilian coroner? How do the Defence Forces deal with deaths within the service?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces personnel management system does not have a means to capture the data in this regard. My understanding is that the coroner decides what is the cause of death and obviously suicide sometimes is found to be the cause. However, all kinds of other outcomes are possible and frequently it is not entirely clear what was the cause. Moreover, it is a matter of enormous sensitivity to survivors and family members and is a very difficult issue with which to deal but my understanding is that it is a civil matter to be dealt with by the coroner and that the Defence Forces personnel management system does not have the capacity to accommodate the information.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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While I take it that this is the position, some Members have been receiving representations on concerns regarding Lariam toxicity pertaining to ongoing illness and suicide. Does the Minister not agree that, in respect of the personnel and families affected, an effort should be made to put together the necessary information in order that the entire subject of the use of Lariam in this regard can be more fully assessed?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy that it would be helpful to have the maximum level of information available and it is important to bear in mind that, in the first instance, responsibility rests with the Irish Medicines Board in respect of any medicines that are approved for use. The Deputy is correct in that the Defence Forces have particular reason to use this medication and have a large cohort of people who need to use it. A reasonable person would state that the precautions taken by administering three or four weeks beforehand, as well as ongoing assessment before travel and during the overseas trip, are very important. Moreover, one should bear in mind that the Defence Forces Medical Corps is available to personnel both in Ireland and to those who are deployed on overseas service. I have no reason to believe that members of the Defence Forces are reluctant to access the services available from the Medical Corps.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I have three brief questions. First, have there been any reported adverse effects as a result of the use of Lariam? Second, can the Minister provide Members with figures regarding the number of suicides or attempted suicides in the Defence Forces in the recent past? Third, the Minister should comment on mental health issues in the Defence Forces.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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As for adverse effects, my understanding is that the Medical Corps would notify the Irish Medicines Board of any effects and that an internal medical communications channel exists. In respect of figures for attempted suicide or suicides, this certainly is not captured by the personnel management system in any event. Moreover, I am not aware whether it is being captured in respect of any other group for that matter. What was the third question?

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It pertained to mental health issues. On the subject of adverse effects, is the Minister aware of any incidents in which a report was given by the Medical Corps to the Irish Medicines Board as he has indicated? Has any such report been given?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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While I am not aware of any particular report, I understand that the Irish Medicines Board depends on two sources. In the first instance, it depends on international medical sources. In addition, I understand that access is available for sources in all the medical services within the country at every level to make information available. As far as I am aware, there is an obligation on people to make such information available and I understand it is made available. However, I am not aware of any particular cohort of people being subject to particular tests or of some kind of peer review being carried out. I am not aware whether this is the case within the Defence Forces and I certainly do not have such information to hand.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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In a previous answer to me in respect of similar questions, the Minister stated that "three members of the Defence Forces had been treated for serious symptoms which may have been caused or contributed to by Lariam". He also noted there was a further cohort of seven personnel with less dramatic symptoms. The questions being debated pertain to suicide and there has been an obligation since 2003 on the Defence Forces to refer any adverse reaction to the Irish Medicines Board. In particular, the fact that suicide and suicide ideation was added to the safety literature in respect of Lariam in 2003 means the Defence Forces should be on high alert for any suicide. The mere fact that the victim was either taking or had taken Lariam in the past should have resulted in a suspected adverse drug reaction report to the Irish Medicines Board. My question is whether all such cases have been referred to the Irish Medicines Board. Moreover, if the Defence Forces have not compiled and are not compiling data on suicide, can the Minister instruct them to so do and to ensure that, in particular, cases in which Lariam had been taken are flagged to the Irish Medicines Board?

Is the Minister aware of the report of the Permanent Defence Force on suicide and turning the tide of suicide? Between 2001-06 there were 15 suicides of serving members. There is a question regarding whether Lariam has an effect among those who have left the Defence Forces.

Would the Minister agree to meet former members - I know there is a problem with meeting current serving members - of the Defence Forces who have highlighted issues regarding Lariam to see whether their concerns are based on fact? It would be helpful to the group that has now formed which is examining these issues. The US military and other militaries have stopped using Lariam specifically because there are concerns about suicide and other adverse effects.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy referred to ten cases, which he has previously referred to in parliamentary questions and which I have discussed with him, Deputies O'Shea and Stanton and others outside the House. In the case of the three people with serious symptomatology, it may have been caused or contributed to by Lariam. I am informed that there is nothing conclusive in this regard, which is not surprising. On the further cohort of seven, they have less dramatic symptoms and remain under review. Again, there is no conclusive evidence that the use of Lariam was a factor in any of the cases.

I am quite confident that the obligations to consult and provide information to the Irish Medicines Board are being complied with; I will check that. It is very difficult to access the figures on suicide. Whatever the local view may be at the time of a person's death, ultimately the matter is decided in a coroner's court and the information becomes available at some point in time. It is not always clear what the exact cause of death is in some instances. It is something which might make it very difficult for military authorities to gather the information.

I am prepared to examine this matter. The three Deputies and the group which was mentioned are obviously concerned about it. In so far as is possible, I will report to the Deputies on what seems to be practically possible.

In regard to a meeting, I tend to take the view that it is preferable to meet the representative associations of current serving members. I have also met the representative associations of retired people. It is a matter I will take up with the Deputy privately when I have considered it.