Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will actively monitor the responses. This matter can escalate into unnecessary civil, legal action. It would be much more desirable to have guidelines that were clear to all parties. We will actively monitor that as it progresses. Thank you, Deputy.

Our last petition is P00009/14, from Mr. Aaron Davey, calling for the legalisation of cannabis use in Ireland. The committee has previously deliberated on similar petitions, P00029/13 and P00001/14, on the legalisation of cannabis. We have agreed that legalisation is not within the remit of this joint committee. The petitioner has requested that legislation to legalise cannabis be enacted. We will write to the petitioner and advise him that as his petition seeks the introduction of legislation, the matter is not within the remit of this committee and is more germane to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality or the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. As with previous petitions, we are referring it on. Again, we will write to the Clerks of the relevant joint committees advising each that this is the third such request for the legalisation of cannabis. Although we are closing the petition, we will monitor the issue. We have a responsibility not just to pass petitions on but to ensure there is a substantive "Yay" or "Nay" from the relevant committees.