I pass on my condolences and sympathy to the family of the late former Deputy Peter Mathews. I was shocked to learn of his passing, which is a terrible loss for his family. He was a very decent and genuine man.

The Taoiseach will be familiar with the case of Ava Barry who suffers from the debilitating and traumatic condition of Dravet syndrome which causes regular traumatic seizures. Ava's mother, Vera Twomey, believes she has been forced to commence a 250 km walk from Cork to Leinster House as a result of a decision by the Health Service Executive to refuse to license medicinal cannabis based products for her daughter, despite the fact that an Irish registered doctor made the application on behalf of the family. This underlines the need for Deputy Gino Kenny's Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill to be passed as a matter of urgency. It appears a legal chill factor is preventing the licensing of products that would make a major difference to young children such as Eva and many others who are suffering from chronic pain and severe medical conditions. I want to know about the process regarding the legislation because we are in uncharted territory with this Opposition Bill and whether it will proceed to Committee Stage. We need a commitment that it will proceed to Committee Stage-----

On promised legislation.

I am referring to a Bill and asking whether it will proceed to Committee Stage. I ask the Government not to seek in any way to restrict access to these products for Ava Barry and others with chronic health conditions who urgently need products to which they are being denied access.

A number of Deputies wish to ask questions on the same issue. I ask them to confine their remarks to one sentence. Deputy Michael Collins will speak as the leader of his group.

I would like a response to my question.

Deputy Michael Collins wishes to raise the same issue.

In the past couple of years the State has blocked a mother's efforts to keep her daughter alive and free from suffering. Vera Twomey will reach the border between counties Cork and Tipperary today. She is highlighting this issue at a critical time. I ask the Taoiseach to personally intervene in the matter.

I raise the same issue which could be addressed by either of two Bills. The Bill discussed in the House before Christmas could be advanced quickly if it were to be allowed to proceed to Committee Stage. Will the Government allow it to proceed? The Minister for Health also gave a commitment to introduce legislation on the issue. Will one or other Bill be advanced to ease the current difficulty?

I will allow Deputy Michael Moynihan to ask a brief question before we move on.

We need a short roadmap for advancing on this critical issue which is being raised in the House for genuine reasons. We do not want a lengthy timeframe.

A commitment was given before Christmas in regard to this legislation. We are now approaching St. Patrick's Day and there is still no commitment from the other side of the House as to how these issues are going to be advanced.

May I ask a question on the same issue?

Everybody wants to know when this legislation might be------

I am not asking about the legislation, rather I would just like to make a short point.

It will need to be very short.

I have been involved with others in this case for about a year. As a Parliament, we must be honest. I do not think the legislative issue is going to resolve this situation.

That is not true.

Deputy Boyd Barrett cannot speak twice.

I am only interested in the child getting access to the best treatment.

Deputy Martin, I agreed to a short question.

We need paediatric neurology in this country to come to grips with this issue and to make some presentation on a pathway towards medical people dealing with the evidence in relation to it. We also need a response to the recently produced report which suggests a pathway to the application of medicinal cannabis for Dravet syndrome.

Accept the GP's recommendation.

I call Deputy Sherlock on the same question.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his latitude. The question that arises is whether a pathway can be provided within existing legislation. We need an answer to the question of whether or not it is the case that a medical practitioner can apply for a licence to administer the specific medication that is deemed to be required in this case. It would be very helpful to the family in question - the Twomey family - if the Taoiseach could clarify the position.

The change in the way that we do business in this House-----

It is more efficient.

-----resulted in Deputies being able to bring forward pieces of legislation, as in the case of Deputy Gino Kenny. It also means that these are not, in the main, objected to and they form part of the line of legislation to be prioritised by the group that puts them forward. The Business Committee has a role in that regard. The Government cannot choose what Bill will be dealt with. There are a number of Bills that are backed up and people now have to make a decision on which ones they want to progress to Committee Stage.

On the question raised, the Minister for Health is not the prescribing Minister for medicinal cannabis. The Minister can only act on the basis of a prescription written by, in this case, as pointed out by Deputy Micheál Martin, a paediatric neurologist.

Where is that written down?

The application has been lodged.

Where is it written down?

The Taoiseach without interruption, please.

The Minister has already approved medicinal drugs on the basis of a prescription. I met with the child's mother in Cork recently to discuss this matter. The Minister will introduce a compassionate formula for the delivery of drugs of this nature but whether he does or does not, he still requires a prescription to be issued by a clinical expert.

A application was made by a registered doctor.

Deputy Boyd Barrett, please. There can be no bilaterals here.

There was an application made by a registered doctor.

The Deputy may not want to hear it but the Minister for Health does not write prescriptions for the allocation of drugs.

There was an application by a registered doctor.

Within existing law, if the clinical person-----

I will ask the Taoiseach to bring his remarks to a conclusion if Deputies do not listen.

-----writes a prescription for the drug to be allocated to the child in question the Minister can then act.