Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to implement the recommendations of the motion taken on 28 June 2017 and agreed by Dáil Éireann regarding the drug lariam. [32345/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I stated in my reply to the Private Members' Motion which was before the Dáil on 28 June, fundamentally the use of anti-malarial drugs is a medical matter that should be decided by qualified medical professionals. In the Defence Forces these are decisions for highly qualified Medical Officers having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces. I have already indicated that a Working Group is currently examining issues arising in relation to the use of Lariam. In its earlier work in 2013, the Group obtained advice from leading medical experts who concurred with the practices followed by the Defence Forces in prescribing Lariam.

The Group is continuing to engage with national and international experts and its most recent meeting was held on 28 June 2017.

I understand that the Working Group is considering options to formalise the provision of ongoing external expert medical advice to the Defence Forces in relation to a range of medical matters, including malaria chemoprophylaxis.

I anticipate receiving its Report shortly and I will carefully consider the Group’s recommendations.

I would like to again remind the House that there is ongoing litigation in relation to this matter. The State Claims Agency manages claims on behalf of the Department of Defence and has confirmed that to date 55 claims have been made by members and former members of the Defence Forces who allege personal injury as a result of their consumption of mefloquine (Lariam). The first case was scheduled to be heard in the High Court on 4th July last and has now been adjourned to 3 November 2017. You will therefore appreciate that I am constrained in my discussions on the matter.

I wish to assure the House that the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me and the Defence Forces.