Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the delegates a number of questions to seek clarification. If primary legislation is required, it will take up to 18 months to complete. If secondary legislation is introduced, it will take six months. People can only access medicinal cannabis products via the licensing process. Is there sufficient confidence, based on the report, that the Minister can issue licences provided he or she has received an application from a specific consultant?

On applications for licences, does each individual patient or each interaction between a patient and a consultant require a licence? Can a consultant receive a licence to be used at his or her discretion for a number of patients?

I refer to the authorised cannabis products available. The document refers to Nabiximols which is Sativex, Nabilone and Dronabinol. Some or all of these products contain a certain amount of THC. Does the concentration of THC in medicinal cannabis products limit their availability in terms of licensing, as the Minister would have power to do under existing legislation?

I ask the delegates to keep these questions in mind.