I am forced, once again, to ask the Government to clarify its position on legislation on access to medicinal cannabis. I am doing so because Vera Twomey, the mother of Ava Barry who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, has been outside all night and remains outside the Dáil. She is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Health, which he promised, regarding gaining access for her daughter to medicinal cannabis.

I appeal to the Government on this issue. We have had mixed and worrying signals that perhaps the reason the Minister does not want to meet Vera Twomey is because he is trying to severely restrict access to medicinal cannabis for people like Ava Barry and others who are suffering and need this product.

In the past ten days the medical profession of this country voted that people like Vera Twomey, who have a prescription from a general practitioner, should have access to this product. Why is the Minister and Government second guessing the medical profession in this country and leaving people like Vera Twomey suffering outside the gates?

Vera Twomey will for a second night sleep outside the Dáil in her fight to get medication for her child and every other person who suffers from the same illness in this country. In an answer to a question some weeks ago the Taoiseach said that for the medication to be legalised in this country it would have to be done through legislation which, in his view, would take some time. He also said a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children could result in a licence being given on compassionate grounds. This meeting took place but, unfortunately, further hurdles have now appeared and Vera is unable to access the medication on compassionate grounds.

This lady wants to go home to her child and we have to have some compassion. She had a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Harris, who promised a follow-up meeting which has not taken place. Can the Tánaiste intervene with the Minister and ask him at least to meet the lady and allow her to go home today to her family?

I am reluctant to discuss individual details in regard to anyone in the House. Obviously, no one wants to see Vera camping outside Leinster House. However, far from what has been said the Minister is not trying to second guess any medical opinion-----

He is.

-----on the situation and I will tell the House why. Clearly, the treatment for the person in question must be managed by her clinicians and it is possible-----

That is not what the IMO said.

The Deputy asked me a question. Does he want me to reply?

Deputy, please let the Tánaiste respond.

The Minister, Deputy Harris, is not a doctor. Those in the IMO are.

Neither is Deputy Boyd Barrett.

The point I want to make is that the Minister has had lengthy meetings with the family on a number of occasions. He has explained to them that it is possible to grant a licence to prescribe a cannabis-based treatment containing THC. However, the application must be endorsed by the consultant treating the-----

The doctors of this country said that is ridiculous and that a GP is enough.

Please.

I am talking about each individual case.

No, sorry. The Minister, Deputy Harris, made that decision. The doctors of this country do not agree.

Let me make the point-----

It is flipping outrageous. The Government is second-guessing the doctors.

Quite the opposite.

Listen to the doctors.

Deputy Boyd Barrett, please.

Let me make the point that-----

It is outrageous.

Deputy Boyd Barrett, you are out of order.

Can I be very clear?

Deputy Boyd Barrett, please.

Once a consultant endorses and supports an application, the current situation-----

A GP is enough, according to the doctors of this country.

-----is that it can then be prescribed.

She has a prescription.

That is the reality.

She has a prescription.

If that prescription is available from a consultant then it can be prescribed.

Why does it have to be a consultant?

The Deputy knows the answer.

No I do not. The doctors of this country said it does not have to be a consultant.