I want to place on record my welcome for the news that Vera Twomey's campaign to get reimbursement for medical cannabis has succeeded. Her fantastic speech at the People of the Year Awards last week was also welcome. She received a standing ovation in respect of the progress of the legislation. I want to ask the Tánaiste a specific question about the report I am holding, which was commissioned by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, and published in January 2017 and which relates to cannabis for medical use. This report was published 15 months ago and absolutely nothing has been done in the interim. People are way ahead of this Government in respect of medical cannabis legislation. The recommendation from the HPRA is that an access programme should be set up. The Bill we put forward is in limbo. Will the Tánaiste comment on this matter please?

Vera Twomey is someone I have gotten to know very well in recent years. She and her daughter, Ava, now have not only the treatment they were looking for but also the financial support of the State to ensure that medication will continue to be provided for Ava. I understand that medication is working very well. That is a successful outcome to what has been a difficult case. The Minister has always said that he has an open mind in terms of the medical use of cannabis. How that might best be introduced has not been finalised. It is currently possible for the Minister to provide an import licence for drugs as part of a course of treatment supported by the advice of a consultant doctor.

This is, of course, how we got the Vera Twomey case finalised in the end. It is not true to say nothing has been happening here, but we need to proceed with caution in this area because it is not straightforward.

The submission was made eight months ago.