Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of drugs tests carried out on members of the Defence Forces for each of the past five years for which records are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8696/07]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the nineteen members of the Defence Forces discharged after failing random drug tests. [8925/07]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces who tested positive in drug testing for 2006; the consequences faced by each of these individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8697/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 93 and 156 together.

A Compulsory Substance Testing Programme was introduced on 1 February 2002 as part of a Defence Forces Substance Abuse Programme. This followed 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 fully of the new Compulsory Random Drug Testing programme.

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 14th November 2002 and the programme is now in its fifth year of operation. The target of testing 10% of the Permanent Defence Force has been achieved. A member of the Permanent Defence Force, 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 of the PDF who refuses to provide a urine sample, or who provides a urine sample which tests positive, may be liable to retirement, discharge or relinquishment of commission or withdrawal of cadetship as appropriate under the provisions of Defence Force Regulations.

The number of Defence Forces personnel tested under the compulsory random drugs testing programme for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Personnel who test positive for controlled substances are liable for Administrative Discharge from the Defence Forces. The test is designed to detect usage of certain controlled substances as specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as amended by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984, such as Amphetamines, Methylamphetamine, Cocaine, Ecstacy (MDMA), Barbituates, Benzodiazapines, Cannabis, Opiates and PCP.