I want to raise an issue I have raised numerous times with the Tánaiste and his colleagues, and one which is also in the programme for Government, namely the commitment to the medical cannabis access programme. Obviously there was good news in January from the Minister for Health that the funding would be obtained via the HSE service plan. Will the Tánaiste give campaigners a commitment on when the programme will be rolled out because this campaign has gone on far too long? Families in desperate situations have gone through a licensing system which is very cumbersome and bureaucratic and does not really work. If this programme gets up and running, medical cannabis products may be issued under prescription for the first time. It would give hope to the people who have been campaigning on this issue for the last five years.

I thank the Deputy. I am afraid I cannot give him a date here. I would like to be able to give him a date and a clear commitment but it is just not an area directly under my responsibility. I am very aware of the Deputy's advocacy on this issue and his commitment to it. I will certainly let the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, know it was raised again and ask them to get back to the Deputy directly.