Written Answers Nos. 230 - 235
230. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is investigating an alternative drug to replace Lariam as the anti-malarial medication used by member of the Defence Forces when serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16136/16]
View answer231. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of serving and retired members of the Defence Forces who have exhibited harmful side-effects from the use of the anti-malarial drug Lariam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.
There are three anti-malarial drugs in use by the Defence Forces, namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. 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.
A Malaria Chemoprophylaxis working group was re-convened in August 2015. The purpose of the group is to review inter alia issues arising in relation to the use of Lariam, particularly in the context of the current and potential litigation; to review and confirm the Defence Forces approach in relation to the use of malaria chemoprophylaxis in the Defence Forces; and to ensure that the procedures in relation thereto continue to be appropriate and in accordance with best medical practice as promulgated by the relevant medical authorities. In addition, the Group was tasked with reviewing the use of the drug Primaquine as part of the overall medical treatment process for those deployed to malarious areas.
Information relating to side effects suffered by members of the Defence Forces following the use of any drug is maintained on individual’s medical files. The Defence Forces’ management systems are not designed to collate the information requested by the Deputy from individual files.
Malaria is a serious disease that killed approximately 438,000 people in 2015, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area. 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 this highly dangerous disease.
232. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces, the number who retired, who were on extended sick leave, who were recruited and who did not complete training, by Army, by Naval Service, by Air Corps, for each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date. [16141/16]
View answerIt has not been possible in the time available to compile the information in the format sought by the Deputy. The information is currently being compiled by the Department and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
233. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he is taking to address the issue of suicide among members of the Defence Forces since the publication of a report a number of years ago; and if he maintains contact with and support for former members who may have been suffering with depression or other mental illnesses when in the Defence Forces or who may have been invalided out with another illness or disability. [16142/16]
View answerThe Deputy refers to a report, published in 2005 and authored by the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Research, St. Vincent's University Hospital and University College Dublin, entitled “Suicide Among Regular-Duty Military Personnel: A Retrospective Case-Control Study of Occupation-Specific Risk Factors for Workplace Suicide”. The study was not a study commissioned by the Defence Forces.
The Defence Forces is fully alert in relation to suicide awareness and prevention, issues of depression and other mental health issues among its personnel, particularly given the nature of their role and personnel access to firearms and weapons, which could be a source of self-harm, or harm to other members of the Defence Forces or the wider public.
The Defence Forces, through their Personnel Support Services (PSS), and working closely with the HSE, have and continue to engage in extensive suicide awareness and education programmes for all members of the Defence Forces. These programmes include:-
- Issuing an “Information Guide on Mental Health and Well Being in the Defence Forces”;
- Issuing and giving presentations on “Defence Forces Guidelines on Suicide”;
- Running courses on “Suicide and Self Harm Awareness”;
- Providing access to “Mental Fitness” programmes through the Defence Forces Intranet;
- Providing WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) training to all PSS personnel;
- Conducting STORM (Skills Training on Risk Management in suicide and self harm mitigation) training with all overseas units;
- Providing ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) training in conjunction with the HSE;
- Conducting Safe Talk training within the Defence Forces; and
- Providing CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) training for all personnel.
There is a PSS office in every major military installation, with one or more qualified Barrack PSS Officers. The role of the Barrack PSS Office includes providing information, assistance and counselling on a range of matters including interpersonal problems, stress, bereavement, housing, education, taxation, social welfare and retirement. As part of the PSS office civilian social workers are also available to support Defence Forces personnel and their families. In addition an independent and strictly confidential 24 hour care-line, manned by trained counsellors, is available to all Defence Forces personnel.
In parallel with the work already underway in the Defence Forces, in June 2015, the Government launched Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020. The strategy sets a target to reduce suicide and self-harm by 10% over the next five years. A National Cross-Sectoral Steering and Implementation Group has been set up to oversee its implementation and the Department of Defence is represented on the Steering Group. The Department of Defence has been tasked with lead responsibility for the following actions in the strategy:-
- Integrate suicide prevention principles into relevant national Department of Defence policies and programmes, which cover persons in the Defence Forces who are vulnerable/at risk of suicide.
- Continue to deliver suicide prevention training to personnel dealing with persons who are vulnerable/at risk of suicide within the Defence Forces.
The function of the Medical Corps of the Defence Forces is to provide medical services to serving members of the Defence Forces and where required, any serving member of the Defence Forces can be referred to psychiatry services, normally through a Medical Officer or contract General Practitioner. It is not the function of the Medical Corps of the Defence Forces, nor has it the capacity, to provide medical services, including counselling, psychology or psychiatric services, to former members of the Defence Forces. The White Paper on Defence, does however include a commitment that, if a member of the Defence Forces is currently availing of the external independent counselling service at the date they leave the organisation, they will be entitled to finish out the counselling sessions (subject to the maximum of six (6) sessions).
234. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is aware of the Department of Defence's grave concerns in relation to the impact of a planned incinerator at Ringaskiddy, County Cork on the operational use of Haulbowline naval base; the action he is taking to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16297/16]
View answerThe Department of Defence, following consultation with the Air Corps and the Naval Service, recently made an oral submission to an Bord Pleanála regarding the proposed development of the waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy. The submission identified two areas of concern, the proximity of the incinerator stack to Haulbowline and the difficulties in the evacuation of the island if necessitated by an incident at the incinerator facility.
The proximity of the stack of the waste-to-energy facility to the helicopter approach paths of Haulbowline Naval Base and Spike Island is a matter of concern due to the fact that this stack will be emitting significant amounts of exhaust gases and is seen by the Department as a potential hazard as it may in certain conditions render approaches by Air Corps helicopters into and out of Haulbowline Island as unsafe.
The second area of concern is due to the fact that Haulbowline Island is accessed by a bridge which is connected to the Ringaskiddy Road. The proposed incinerator is to be built adjacent to this road, before Haulbowline. Therefore, in the event of any accident at the incinerator, road access to and from Haulbowline is threatened. This could in some instances hinder the operation of the Naval Base or in the event of a major incident necessitating local area evacuation, the evacuation of Haulbowline would be denied.
The planning application on the building of an incinerator in Ringaskiddy is currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. Accordingly it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.
235. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contingencies he has in place for the Naval Service and Air Corps, given that Indaver Ireland is building a waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour close to the naval headquarters and operational base on Haulbowline Island, regarding which his Department informed a Bord Pleanála inquiry that this has strategic implications for joint operations between the Air Corps and the Naval Service. [16338/16]
View answerThe Department of Defence, following consultation with the Air Corps and the Naval Service, recently made an oral submission to an Bord Pleanála regarding the proposed development of the waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy. The submission identified two areas of concern, the proximity of the incinerator stack to Haulbowline and the difficulties in the evacuation of the island if necessitated by an incident at the incinerator facility.
The proximity of the stack of the waste-to-energy facility to the helicopter approach paths of Haulbowline Naval Base and Spike Island is a matter of concern due to the fact that this stack will be emitting significant amounts of exhaust gases and is seen by the Department as a potential hazard as it may in certain conditions render approaches by Air Corps helicopters into and out of Haulbowline Island as unsafe.
The second area of concern is due to the fact that Haulbowline Island is accessed by a bridge which is connected to the Ringaskiddy Road. The proposed incinerator is to be built adjacent to this road, before Haulbowline. Therefore, in the event of any accident at the incinerator, road access to and from Haulbowline is threatened. This could in some instances hinder the operation of the Naval Base or in the event of a major incident necessitating local area evacuation, the evacuation of Haulbowline would be denied.
The planning application on the building of an incinerator in Ringaskiddy is currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. Accordingly it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.
