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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Medical cannabis access

Summary

Deputy Gino Kenny challenged the Taoiseach on delays in making medical cannabis available, insisting the issue was not supplier misinformation. The exchange deteriorated into repeated interruptions and accusations, with Ministers and the Chair intervening before the Chair ruled that posters and other paraphernalia were not allowed.

Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts from 1977 to 2016, the Minister for Health can issue a licence for cannabis on medical grounds and has done so on 23 occasions for 12 different patients. We are working proactively to make sure this product is available to people who need it and who have a prescription for it. The HPRA advises us that there is a problem finding a supplier. It should be borne in mind that medicines have to be produced to a certain standard. The HPRA says there is a difficulty identifying an appropriate supplier. I am disappointed that the Deputy seems to believe this is some sort of tactic, misinformation or disinformation-----

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Two years. It is not an issue with the supplier.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

-----from the HPRA. I understand the UK has run into similar difficulty. Given that Deputy Kenny is speaking about misinformation-----

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It is not misinformation.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

-----a concerned member of the public gave me this poster.

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The Taoiseach is a disgrace.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I understand somebody from the Deputy's party or associated with his party-----

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The Taoiseach is a disgrace.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

-----put this poster up.

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The Taoiseach is a disgrace.

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Josepha Madigan Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Fine Gael

That is not acceptable.

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The Taoiseach is a disgrace.

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Will the Deputy let the Taoiseach respond?

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The Taoiseach is a disgrace. That is the lowest thing I have seen here.

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Jim Daly Minister of State at the Department of Health Fine Gael

Deputy Kenny did not call David McCullagh a disgrace when he showed it to him last night. Why would he call this a disgrace?

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The Government has had two years to get this right and has done nothing.

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Why did Deputy Kenny not call David McCullagh a disgrace?

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Thousands of people are suffering. The Government is a joke.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I have a serious concern about people spreading misinformation on health issues.

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The Taoiseach is a disgrace. I want him to withdraw that remark.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I did not make any remark.

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I want the Taoiseach to withdraw that remark.

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That is out of order.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

What remark?

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The Taoiseach is making accusations with that poster.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

What remark?

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The Taoiseach should do what he was about to do.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I think the Deputy protests too much.

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I want the Taoiseach to withdraw that remark.

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What remark is Deputy Kenny seeking to have withdrawn?

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The Taoiseach has not said anything.

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The Taoiseach is implying in the poster-----

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Implying is not a remark.

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Why did he introduce the poster? That was a year and a half ago. It has nothing to do with us.

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I cannot even read the poster. In fact, it is contrary to the rules to introduce any posters, newspapers or paraphernalia in here. I call Deputy Broughan.

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