Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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818. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Air Corps pilots currently grounded for being intoxicated on duty. [17888/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The unique and challenging nature of military service requires that military personnel are free from the presence or influence of any controlled drug or substance. The Defence Forces conduct Compulsory Random Drug Testing (CRDT) of all employees with approximately 10% of Defence Forces personnel tested annually.

The Military Authorities have advised me that there are no Air Corps pilots currently grounded for being intoxicated on duty. However, as the Deputy will be aware, following a recent Compulsory Random Drug Testing in Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, one member of the Defence Forces tested as "unclear" for a controlled substance.

It is the case that under Defence Force Administrative Procedures, unclear initial test sample results cannot be considered positive until the sample provided has been tested by a designated civilian laboratory and the presence of a controlled drug is revealed. Therefore, the administrative process for the recent "unclear" test remains ongoing and it would not be appropriate to comment further in respect of an individual case.