Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cabinet decided earlier that for anybody making a claim or an application under the humanitarian aid relief funds in circumstances where the process for accepting applications is closed and where claims have been settled already, we cannot reopen the process because that would result in us going back who knows how long. Where there are still alive applications that have not been settled yet, however, the new rules will apply. It will depend on the individual circumstances. Where applications are already closed, settled and the money paid, that is done. Where they are still live, we can apply the new rules.

I look forward to reading the report from the citizens' assembly and meeting the chairman, which I will do in the next few weeks. I will definitely refer it to a joint committee for further scrutiny. Whether the report will go to the health committee, the justice committee or both, I do not know yet, but we will definitely refer it for further discussion. We need to tease out what was recommended because it is not clear exactly how we would pursue a comprehensive health-based approach in Ireland, whether it would be through full decriminalisation or creating an unindictable offence. All of these matters need to be teased out and an Oireachtas committee is the best place to do that.

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