Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Defence regarding the deployment by the Defence Forces of one doctor and three medical NCOs to Sierra Leone if Lariam is being prescribed as an anti-malarial drug for these personnel; the other nations that are sending personnel on this mission; the anti-malaria medication that is being prescribed for personnel from other nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1218/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that as of 9^thJanuary 2015 the Defence Forces have two personnel deployed to Sierra Leone as part of Ireland’s response to the Ebola crisis. A further five Defence Forces medical personnel, one doctor and four medics recently deployed to the UK on Tuesday 6^thof January for mission specific pre-deployment training. These personnel are due in Sierra Leone shortly to commence a three month deployment. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) formerly the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is the statutory authority with responsibility for the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland. There are three anti-malarial medications licensed by the HPRA, in use in the Defence Forces, namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The malaria chemoprophylactic agent of choice by the Irish Defence Forces for use in Sub-Saharan Africa (which includes Sierra Leone) continues to be Lariam.

The choice of chemoprophylaxis is dependent on a number of factors including the type of malaria in the destination, resistance to particular drugs, the profile of the traveller (contra-indications, underlying health conditions, purpose of travel), the duration of travel and adherence issues. The choice of medication for the particular mission in Sierra Leone is a medical decision made by Defence Forces Medical Officers having regard to the efficacy of particular medications, the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.

The deployment by the Irish Defence Forces is in co-operation with the U.K. Defence Forces. The medication being prescribed by the UK Defence Forces for their personnel is Malarone. The choice of malaria chemoprophylaxis for use by other armed forces is an internal matter for those forces. It would be inappropriate for the Irish Defence Forces to comment on other Nations policy in this regard.

Former Ministers for Defence have had the various allegations surrounding the use of Lariam investigated thoroughly and obtained the advice of leading medical experts, who concur with the prescribing practices followed by the Defence Forces. Anti-malarial medications must remain in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, to ensure that our military personnel can have the most effective protection from the very serious risks posed by this highly dangerous disease.