Yesterday the Minister for Health signed legislation to allow for the operation of the medical cannabis access programme on a pilot basis for five years. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate compassionate access to cannabis for medical reasons. Some parents travel to Holland to obtain medical cannabis, under licence, on a three monthly basis. When will they be able to access the drug in Ireland? In the Minister’s press release yesterday he stated pharmacists would be able to dispense cannabis for medical use, as set out in the legislation, once suppliers made the specified controlled drugs available in the Irish market. Do we have any timeframe for when the parents in question will be able to access these products?

I know that operational guidance on the medical cannabis access programme will be available shortly for patients, suppliers, importers, medical practitioners and pharmacists. They are valid questions. It was confirmed and the legislation was launched yesterday, but clear guidelines will be published shortly to answer all of the practical questions about access.