Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the lengthy briefing. I hope there is agreement on it but, as we are concluding, it would be helpful to clarify or acknowledge that the job of the HPRA is, as I understand it, to work within certain EU directives and frameworks to approve a drug to be used an dispensed. As I understand it, it is not about deciding the efficacy of a particular product for a particular patient. I think that is an important distinction and perhaps those from the HPRA or others might want to confirm it. Notwithstanding the clear differences of opinion, I also hope it is acknowledged that other choices have been made and that other opinions exist. These include those of medical professionals as well as regulatory authorities and Legislatures in other States. There is no particular reason to believe that whatever recommendations or opinions are adopted here are superior to the opinions or decisions that have been made by other States. This is, in fact, a matter to be debated. I hope the witnesses agree, and ask them to agree, that to be the case.

The distinction between the role of a consultant and that of a GP has not been explained to my satisfaction. When we asked political questions to the Minister in November, we were told it would be a registered doctor but now we are being told it will be a consultant. However, the paediatric neurologists are telling Vera that they do not enough about this stuff and are suggesting visiting Canada to find out from people who do know. The idea that a consultant knows more than a GP has not been explained to my satisfaction. Why is that distinction being made?

The witnesses seem to be saying that we need more data and information on the relationship between cannabinoids and pain, yet they are recommending that we do not include them in a trial where we could gather that data.

It is a fundamental contradiction that, on the one hand, we need more information, data and evidence and, on the other, we choose not to gather this evidence by allowing people who suffer from pain into the trial. Perhaps one of the witnesses will explain that contradiction.