Archive for the ‘Defence’ Category
From Ed Horgan at Shannon Watch
Easter Sunday morning at 9am United States Navy Lockheed C-130T Hercules 165313 c/n 5383 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron based in Jacksonville, Florida USA is back in Shannon, having been here also on Good Friday, probably having been on a mission to the Middle East in the meantime, delivering troops or other war materials to the killing fields. Once again it is being protected by Gardaí and Irish army personnel. These Gardaí and Irish army personnel should be celebrating the centenary of Irish independence and sovereignty today, except of course that our Government (or so-called acting-Government) have handed over our independence and sovereignty to the United States of America at Shannon airport.
Happy Easter?? Not if one is at the receiving end of the war materials being transported through Shannon airport on this and other US war planes on a daily basis.
Clare asks the Minister why Lariam continues to be the first-line drug of choice for Irish Defence Forces serving in Sub-Saharan Africa, given the high risk of serious, permanent neuropsychiatric side-effects being experienced by those who take the drug. Side-effects include depression, anxiety, hallucinations, psychosis, and sleep disturbance. Lariam is a third-line, drug of last resort for US troops serving in the same region, one which is only issued if other anti-malarials aren’t tolerated by an individual for some reason, because of the severity and permanence of its side-effects.
Clare challenged the Minister for Defence on a number of issues, including the deployment of Irish soldiers to the Golan Heights in light of Israel finding and intending to claim oil on territory outside its own; the continuing practice of prescribing Lariam as the preferred anti-malarial to Irish soldiers in Sub-Saharan Africa, something which puts Ireland at odds with prescribing policies in the UK and the US, amongst others; Horizon 2020; and the progress of the review of the fire on board the LÉ Clíona on 29 May 1962. You can read Clare’s questions and his answers below.
To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received the report of the Working Group on the use of Lariam in the Defence Forces; and if he will outline its contents. DEPUTY CLARE DALY.
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