Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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557. To ask the Minister for Defence the names and qualifications of all those appointed by him to serve on his Department of Defence working group on lariam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49040/13]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department has secured expert advice in relation to the development of an anti-malaria policy; the names and qualifications of those providing such advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49511/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 561 together.

The Working Group on Malaria Chemoprophylaxis in the Defence Forces was convened in the context of current and potential litigation. The group comprises of representatives of the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence, State Claims Agency and the Chief State Solicitors Office. The group includes representatives of the Medical Corps, and persons dealing with Human Resources and litigation management in the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The report of the group is legally privileged, as is information about the working group and its membership.

I can confirm that the Group investigated all the various allegations surrounding the use of Lariam and obtained advice from leading medical experts. These experts concur with the practices followed by the Defence Forces in prescribing Lariam.