Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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57. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding progress toward the discontinuance of the use of Lariam in the Defence Forces following the passage of a motion in the Houses of the Oireachtas calling for same in June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43977/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the efforts which have been made to withdraw and replace the anti-malaria drug Lariam and implement the proposals contained in the cross-party motion that was passed in the previous Dáil Éireann term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44035/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 59 together.

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 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 56 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 for the Defence Forces.