Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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697. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Lariam is still being provided to members of the Defence Forces; if not, when this practice ended; if it is still being administered the rationale for this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19169/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Anti-malarial medications, including Lariam, remain in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by Malaria. Malaria is a serious disease that killed approximately 438,000 people in 2015, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, as reported by the World Health Organisation. It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area.

Significant precautions are taken by Irish Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of our Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Irish Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability. The objective is to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by malaria.

The health and welfare of the Defence Forces are a priority for me and this informs my approach to the issue of Lariam. The choice of medication for overseas deployment, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Irish Defence Forces.