Vol. 573 No. 3
163 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the total number of personnel who have been dismissed from the Defence Forces as a result of testing positive for drugs; the ranks of those dismissed and the substance which was detected in the testing; the total number of personnel subjected to testing since the process began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25265/03]
Drug abuse has long been recognised as a serious and escalating problem in our society and while there have been relatively few instances of drug-related problems within the Defence Forces, it is recognised that the Defence Forces, as a component of the wider community, mirrors the community at large. The implications of drug abuse in an organ isation in which personnel have access to firearms are too obvious to require elaboration.
A compulsory substance testing programme was introduced on 1 February 2002 as part of a Defence Forces substance abuse programme, following a long consultative process involving the Office of the Attorney General, the Deputy Judge Advocate General and the Defence Forces representative associations. Prior to the launch of the programme, an education programme and awareness briefings were conducted throughout the Defence Forces. All personnel were issued with a booklet devised to inform them of the purpose of the new compulsory random drug testing programme, the administrative procedures involved and the sanctions for those who test positive. All necessary measures, including pre-enlistment screening, education, compulsory random drug testing, monitoring and sanctions, will be taken to maintain a drug-free environment within the Defence Forces.
The primary objective of compulsory random drugs testing is deterrence. In order to provide a credible level of deterrent, the testing programme has been devised to maximise the possibility of random selection for testing. A trained drugs testing team is responsible for taking urine samples for compulsory random testing throughout the Defence Forces. Testing commenced on 14 November 2002 and the programme completed its first year of operation on 31 October 2003. The target of testing 10% of the Permanent Defence Force has been achieved. A member, randomly selected, may be required at any time to provide a urine sample which will be tested for evidence of use of controlled drugs or the abuse or misuse of other substances or for the detection of the metabolites thereof. A member who refuses to provide a urine sample or who provides a urine sample which tests positive shall be liable to retirement, discharge, relinquishment of commission or withdrawal of cadetship as appropriate under the provisions of Defence Forces regulations.
A total of 1,086 members of all ranks have been tested to date. There have been four positive tests. As absolute confidentiality is an essential and integral component of the protocols surrounding the programme of compulsory random drugs testing, I do not propose to provide any further information on the four individuals who gave positive test results, other than that they are no longer members of the Defence Forces.
Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 162.
