Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome everyone in the Gallery. I welcome the opportunity to speak. I have listened to much of the debate and put my pen away because I kept changing my notes.

There has been a lot of misinformation. Sinn Féin supports the legalisation of medicinal cannabis where it is deemed medically necessary. I would like to appeal to Members of all parties and none to come together and do the right thing. Let us forget about political point scoring. We all have feelings and we are all human beings. Those of us who are blessed with children know the stress and strain on families.

I acknowledge Deputy Kenny and his colleagues on bringing this issue forward. We have spoken on a personal, rather than a political, basis. I know the work that went into the process. I do not want the Bill to fail. The majority of Members want to help everybody.

I thank Deputies for having a debate with Sinn Féin and other parties and being willing to make compromises to get the Bill to the final stage. We want to try to help Ava Barry and all of the other Ava Barrys in the country. If we can pull together as a team, surely to God we can do the right thing.

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