I have raised countless times in the Chamber the issue of lack of access to medical cannabis. Yesterday, I was in the House of Commons with Vera Twomey where we attended a presentation on access to medical cannabis in Britain. I will get onto that in a few minutes.

The Deputy does not have a few minutes.

In the time that I have. Ms Twomey spoke passionately about the ordeal her family went through. I spoke to MPs about the lack of progress and, in particular, about the Government stalling the legislation. I do not know if the Tánaiste has been watching, but the Tory Government in the UK has done a U-turn on access to medicinal cannabis and is carrying out a full review. The Minister for Health briefed the Cabinet two or three weeks ago about the lack of access to medical cannabis.

The Deputy should ask a question. We have a long list.

I want the Tánaiste to give me an answer on the lack of access to medical cannabis while people are suffering. I know for a fact that people will die because of the Government's lack of progress on this issue.

Deputy, please. You have made your point. Your colleagues want to come in.

They are going to die.

Parents and children can access medicinal cannabis in Ireland today. Vera Twomey's case is very familiar to me and I know her very well. I have intervened in that case to try to help her, as have others in the House. That access has been very beneficial for her child. As far as I am aware, the Minister for Health has not refused to licence the importation of medicinal cannabis in any case where that course has been recommended by a consultant. Parents can access medicinal cannabis today, which is different from what the Deputy is looking for, namely, to not require any process of licensing from the Minister.

Can the Tánaiste withdraw that remark? That is not true.

What is not true?

Deputy Kenny cannot come in. I am going to move on.

He said piece of legislation. The Government has sat on that Bill for the last eight months.

The Deputy will have to put down a Topical Issue or find some other way to raise the matter if he needs more than a minute.

It is a lie. The Tánaiste has misled the House.

That is not a lie. The Deputy is not allowed to do that.

I did not hear him, but if the Deputy used the word "lie"-----

He did.

Can I clarify?

He misled the House.

I have not misled the House. I said that parents and children can currently access medicinal cannabis but they must have a licence from the Minister for Health who, as far as I am aware, has not refused a single case as long as there has been a consultant doctor's recommendation.

It should not be up to the Minister.

Deputy Kenny's colleagues want to ask questions.

If the Tánaiste starts to give straight answers, I will stop.

The Deputy had an opportunity. I was too lenient with him. Other Members want to ask questions and I have asked for the co-operation of the House in that regard but I am not getting it.

What I said was that Deputy Kenny was looking for something different, which he should see as a compliment. He is looking for a Bill to deal with this in a more comprehensive way but the legislation he presented is not fit for purpose. This is an issue that the Minister, Deputy Harris, has under review and the Government will deal with it in a way that is in the interests of children.