I want to raise an issue that I and other Deputies have raised countless times, namely access to medicinal cannabis. Many families and campaigners would have been joyous during the summer when the medicinal cannabis programme was to commence. Sadly I learned in a parliamentary question response today that not one patient has been given access to the programme thus far. That is a huge disappointment to the families that this treatment could provide life changing benefit to. What does the Taoiseach say to families who feel let down by the programme, who have to look at other treatments and who will probably get no treatment?

A range of people and families have been facilitated in access to medicinal cannabis through the imported licence arrangement. As to the precise reasons why people have not been able to access this programme, I will follow up with the Minister for Health to get an understanding of that. I have not looked at the parliamentary question response the Deputy got and I do not know whether that outlines why that has happened or what challenges the programme is facing.