Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think it was the Chairman who questioned whether the State is to indemnify consultants. I am concerned at the direction we are taking on this issue.

Consultants have a level of competence and experience that has been developed over many years in a particular area, which is exactly what Dr. Devlin has said. Where are we going if we circumvent the clear advice and research of the Health Products Regulatory Authority? The HPRA is not a mean organisation that wants to stop people getting medication, rather it safeguards the health of the nation regarding medicines.

When thalidomide was first launched a good few years ago, it was deemed a wonder drug that would relieve morning sickness. As it turned out, the trial data for the medication did not exist but I will not bore the committee with the details. Anybody who suffers hyperemesis will happily take whatever one is handed. Let us say the trial data did not exist but we had a person or two in Ireland who suffered severe hyperemesis as a result of pregnancy. Theoretically, we could have a case where somebody who is suffering from severe morning sickness could approach the Minister and say, "I want this drug prescribed". If we go ahead with the proposal for the State to indemnify consultants and children are born without limbs, the onus will be on the State.

As the committee will know, I am familiar with the framework which was not developed to be mean to people or to avoid giving people things. It exists to safeguard the health of the people of this country. To my mind, it is a very robust system. I have never had a difficulty with it. As a pharmacist, I am quite uncomfortable with the three conditions that have been recommended. I am fine with the framework and can see where it comes from, but what about the sanctity of the doctor's position, be it a GP or a consultant?

It is a bad state of affairs when the State starts telling medical professionals what they should do and that it will provide insurance if a person's arm falls off or whatever. What are we at here? We have good systems in place, yet we are trying to get around them. What happens if a child or an adult suffers from an overdose of CBD or whatever product he or she is taking in the next few weeks? We must be conscious that such a scenario could happen. His or her blood would be on our hands to some extent.

We must be careful. I support the initiative once a process has been gone through. I am not a party pooper. I want everyone to get what they can get if it is right for them to get it and it will improve their lives, but let us not rip up the rule book. Medication can cause terrible unintended consequences. We could spend all night talking about this matter. The witnesses know, some committee members know and I know that terrible side effects have been caused by medications that were never anticipated. That is why we have robust trials and assessment of medicines. Everyone thought thalidomide was great until the second isomer emerged. The committee must be conscious of what can happen if we ride roughshod over everything.