Mr. Eugene Lennon:

I will ask my colleague, Ms Egan, to respond to the questions from Senator Burke and Deputy O'Connell on the work of the expert reference group. I confirm that, as Deputy O'Connell said, a system is in place for a licence to be issued for the prescription, possession and importation of cannabis-based treatments that contain THC if that application for a licence is endorsed by a consultant. As we said, a licence has been issued so a system is in place under current legislation.

The Deputy is also right that the legislation should refer to the Minister for Health because it concerns controlled drugs and medicinal products. On the question of penalties, a lot of offences are listed in this Bill and it removes cannabis from the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, while there are offences under this Bill, there are no penalties, no terms of imprisonment and no fines for any of those offences so there is no deterrent effect.

Ms Egan and our PSI colleagues will say a bit more about protecting children and women but these are issues which the expert reference group will look at. The expert group will focus initially on cannabis products being made available for the three conditions outlined by the Minister on 10 February but it is essential that it is not closed off from other conditions in the future. We have to provide guidelines for clinicians and pharmacists and information for patients so that we protect them. This is an unauthorised and unregulated product so we have to be cautious and prudent in setting up a scheme to make it available to members of the public. I agree that we should not see patients as consumers in a market system.