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

The latter has international standing. What have we learned from the time in question, particularly regarding thalidomide? I am a chemist by profession so I am aware of how the thalidomide issue arose. The isomer changed and had a profoundly different effect. The regulations and hoops companies have to go through were really reinforced as a result of the thalidomide issue. The Swiss cheese theory, of things going through the gap, was mentioned. It opened a whole new regulatory process, which was very exciting for people like me but not very exciting for most people. That gives rise to greater safety. What have we learned from the thalidomide issue that will ensure we do not let the same thing happen again? I acknowledge it arose in a different era. I am referring, in particular, to the recent legislation introduced by the Minister for Health on access to medicinal cannabis, with the expansion of the compassionate access programme. Is the agency considering potential risks to the State seeing that it seems to have circumvented the HPRA's regulatory rules? Are we opening ourselves wide to another situation in the future if we circumvent the processes put in place? "Circumvent" is probably a loose word. I am referring to where processes might not necessarily be abided by 100%, bearing in mind what arose from the thalidomide issue.