Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am just telling the Deputy that that is my view as Minister for Health. I am not disagreeing with her view that there is no evidence base for cannabis as a medicine. However, it is the medicine of last resort. If a medically qualified consultant treating someone for one of the three relevant conditions believes it could help, he or she is allowed to seek the licence. We spent a significant amount of time setting up the programme and bringing together an expert group, but we were criticised for doing so. The guidelines for the programme have been designed by doctors, scientists, pharmacists and others.