John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Prison Service will provide access to other confirmatory testing for prisoners whose initial mandatory drug test is found positive for illegal drugs, in view of the fact that false positive test results are known to be potentially triggered by legal prescription medications, including HIV medications (details supplied); if not the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29737/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of the potential for positive test results in the context of mandatory drug testing arising from consumption of prescribed medication. I assure the Deputy that the new scheme the Irish Prison Service will put in place will have appropriate provisions to deal with this.

There are pre-existing procedures to deal with circumstances in which a positive drug test is attributed by a prisoner to a legitimately prescribed and consumed medication. These involve the examination of whether there is a basis for such attribution, including consultation with the relevant prescriber as to whether any medication prescribed for the prisoner could be responsible for the positive result. It is not current practice to require the prisoner to undergo further tests in such circumstances.