Medical cannabis arrangements
Deputy Gould asked that emergency Covid-era arrangements for medical cannabis become permanent so families would not have to travel abroad for treatment. The Tánaiste said standing arrangements should already be in place, would take it up with the Health Minister, and wanted the matter resolved.
We move now to today's list. Seven Deputies have indicated but we will not reach all of them. I call Deputy Gould and ask him to be as quick as possible.
Comment on this
One of the only positive things to come out of the pandemic is that the Government put in place emergency structures for the supply of medical cannabis to people such as Vera Twomey's daughter Ava. Before the pandemic, the Government stated this could not be done, and families had to travel to the Netherlands and other places to get medical cannabis. Will the Government commit to making the emergency temporary structures that are in place the norm, so that families will not have to worry and feel the uncertainty of having to travel for their medicine?
Comment on this
I am really not sure why it is taking so long to sort out this issue of medical cannabis. It has been discussed for years in this Chamber. Emergency arrangements were put in place, which the Deputy mentioned, but we should by now have in place standing arrangements that work for people for whom the drug has been prescribed by a specialist. It is an issue that falls under the remit of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, rather than me but I will take it up with him. It is an issue we are keen to sort out once and for all.