Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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31. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the Defence Forces as of 12 January 2020 took the belated decision to in future offer an alternative to the anti-malaria drug lariam to members of the Defence Forces operating overseas; and if he plans to act on the unopposed decision of the Dáil Éireann motion of 28 June 2017 to draw up a plan of action to help alleviate and address ongoing concerns. [3728/20]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Medical policy in the Defence Forces is kept under constant review to ensure that best practice is adhered to at all times. As I indicated to the Deputy in response to the Private Members' Motion of the 28th June 2017 regarding the anti-malarial drug Lariam, and on other occasions, the use of anti-malarial drugs is a medical matter to be decided by medical professionals. In the Defence Forces, these are matters for highly qualified medical officers having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.

There are three anti-malarial drugs, namely Lariam, Malarone and Doxycycline which continue to be used by the Defence Forces. The selection by a Medical Officer of the most appropriate drug for use is a complex one and dependent on a number of factors. Significant precautions are taken by the Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of personnel to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability for all missions, and not just those to sub-Saharan Africa. 

The decision on which medication to prescribe will continue to be made by the examining Medical Officer following consultation with the individual during their overseas deployment assessment.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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32. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will order a full health screening of all serving and former members of the Defence Forces to assess the effects on their health by the compulsory ingestion of lariam in view of the decision to offer an alternative anti-malaria drug to Defence Forces personnel operating overseas (details supplied). [3729/20]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The use of anti-malarial drugs is a medical matter to be decided by medical professionals. In the Defence Forces, these are matters for highly qualified medical officers having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.

The selection by a Medical Officer of the most appropriate drug for use is a complex one and dependent on a number of factors. Significant precautions are taken by the Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of personnel to take any of the anti-malarial medications, all of which have contraindications and side effects. I am advised that the Defence Forces Medical Policy on the use of malaria chemoprophylaxis (including the use of Lariam) is in line with United Nations and World Health Organisation guidelines. 

Defence Forces personnel posted overseas are comprehensively medically assessed in advance of and post-deployment, and are subject to routine medical assessments. Personnel also have access on an ongoing basis to the wide range of medical supports available to the Defence Forces.