Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2017
71. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if psychological or neurological damage as a result of being prescribed lariam mefloquine while serving in the Defence Forces is an accepted ground upon which an Army disability pension will be paid; and if not, the reason therefor. [32349/17]
View answerUnder the Army Pensions Acts 1923-1980 a disability pension or gratuity may, following retirement, be granted to a former member of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) for permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad) or to a disease which is secondary to an injury, or is attributable to, or aggravated by, overseas service with a United Nations Force.
The criteria for awarding a disability pension or gratuity are based on;
(a) whether the applicant is suffering from a permanent disablement due to wound/injury which is attributable to his military service at home or abroad, or to a disease which is secondary to an injury, or is attributable to or aggravated by service with a United Nations Force abroad,
and
(b) the percentage degree of disablement from which the applicant is suffering.
The award of a disability pension or gratuity depends on the findings of the Army Pensions Board. The rate of disability pension depends on the degree of disablement as assessed by that Board.
The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members (both doctors). The Chairman and one doctor are civilians and the other member is a serving Army doctor. The Board’s principal function is to investigate applications for pensions, allowances and gratuities under the Acts and to report to the Minister thereon.
The Board determines the question of attributability to military service in each case; assesses the degree of disability; and reports its findings to the Department, which acts on the Board’s findings including the grant or refusal of appropriate benefits. The findings of the Army Pensions Board in regard to ‘attributability’ are final and conclusive and binding. However, there is provision for review of awards or refusals subject to certain conditions, for example if additional relevant information has subsequently become available.
The Board assesses applications on a case by case basis and makes its findings based on an examination of the applicant and their medical records, and on the individual circumstances of the case. The Board can, on a case by case basis, decide to seek additional medical opinion if this is considered necessary.
To date, the Board has not made a finding of a disablement of psychological or neurological damage as a result of being prescribed lariam mefloquine while serving in the PDF.
