Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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53. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has instructed the military authorities to cease issuing lariam to soldiers as per the Dáil Éireann's instructions on 28 June 2017; and if he has begun the preparations for consultation with soldiers' representative groups in conjunction with the HSE to help alleviate the ongoing effects on some soldiers that were issued the anti-malaria drug lariam. [32261/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I stated in my reply to the Private Member s’ 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.

With regard to support services generally that are available to members of the Permanent Defence Force, the position is that there is a range of support services, both medical and non medical, available to all Defence Forces Personnel. These include access to Defence Forces Medical Officers, Psychiatric, Psychological and Personnel Support Services. The Defence Forces Personnel Support Services provide a confidential information, education, support and referral service designed to give Defence Forces personnel, and their families, access to information and services both from within the military community and outside it on a range of issues. There is a Personnel Support Services Officer in each Barracks/Station. These officers can provide counselling support and also undertake regular briefing of personnel. In addition, a strictly confidential 24 hour care-line, manned by trained counsellors, is available to Defence Forces personnel.

I would like to again remind the Deputy 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 Deputy that the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me and the Defence Forces.