Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for rasing this important issue, about which he cares passionately. I share his concerns and his ideas.

I very much appreciate the difficult situation that Ava and her family are in and how painful it is for any parent to see his or her child suffering with a condition such as this. Many patients with a variety of medical conditions believe that cannabis should be a treatment option. However, with the exception of Sativex, cannabis-based preparations are not currently authorised as medicines in Ireland. Cannabis has not gone through the normal regulatory procedures for medicines, which are designed to protect patients and ensure that treatments are supported by good evidence of their effectiveness. However, the Minister for Health is committed to urgently reviewing policy on medicinal cannabis and I support that position. He met the parents of Ava Barry last week and updated them on his stance.

The Minister has requested the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, to provide him with expert advice on the issue of medicinal cannabis. The HPRA's statutory role is to protect and enhance human health by regulating medicines and other health products. It has the necessary clinical and scientific expertise to provide advice on this issue. The Minister has asked for a report on recent developments in the use of medicinal cannabis in other countries, including an overview of emerging research. The HPRA may also propose changes to legislation in respect of the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Separately, the Minister understands that the Joint Committee on Health will also begin to examine the issue of medicinal cannabis later this month. He hopes to receive the report from the HPRA and the output from the committee early in the new year. He will then be in a position to consider and progress any legislative changes that may be recommended.

In the meantime, it must be emphasised that treatment options are a matter to be discussed between patients, their carers and their doctors in the first instance. Cannabis-based preparations intended for treatment of certain types of epilepsy are currently undergoing clinical trials. It may be possible for patients to access these products on an individual basis, but this is something for discussion with their doctors. This is one of the options we should examine. Cannabis-based preparations are strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. However, it is open to the Minister to consider an application from an Irish registered doctor for a licence for such products for a named patient. The appropriateness of any particular treatment is a matter between the patient and their doctor and the Minister has no role, and it would be entirely inappropriate for him to involve himself in this process. My understanding is that many doctors would be quite cautious about recommending a cannabis-based treatment for a patient in the absence of robust clinical evidence that underpins authorised medicines. However, it is open to any doctor to make an application.

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