Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Martin Kenny for facilitating this important debate, which many people will be watching from their homes. Everyone who has spoken referred to being contacted by constituents suffering from the long-term condition of fibromyalgia. One of the things they say most often is that this illness makes them prisoners in their own homes. Having their voices heard is part of the battle for them. Deputy Kenny is to be commended on giving voice to those people today. How difficult this condition is to diagnose has already been described. It is diagnosis by elimination. People have probably been suffering and in pain for years by the time they get a diagnosis from their doctor.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan made a good suggestion. While it may not be the Government's position to accept everything said here today, there are some suggestions that could be progressed. Some changes could be commenced in order that something positive can come out of this debate for those people suffering with this condition. The Government should examine what elements can be progressed and what can be done, rather than dismissing everything out of hand. Some thought could be given to how progress can be made. As others have said, it is not good enough simply to have nice words. There needs to be some action.

Many of those who suffer with fibromyalgia are also advocates for the legal use of medicinal cannabis because they believe it alleviates their pain. As well as asking about normal constituency matters, many of those with fibromyalgia who contact my office ask that some progress be made on making medicinal cannabis readily available where it has been prescribed by clinicians. Sinn Féin supports the legalisation of medicinal cannabis where it has been deemed medically necessary for a patient, in consultation with his or her parents or guardians, for ailments such as fibromyalgia.

The issue of medicinal cannabis is one on which there is a wide range of views and opinions. Some of those have already been expressed today and we are aware of them. This issue should, however, always be viewed from a medical and health perspective. We should always defer to medical experts and patient advocacy groups on these issues because they are on the front line. We may all have an opinion but it has to be informed by those who dealing with the issue daily, namely, doctors and campaigners. We need to find out if there is scope for medical professionals to learn more about progressive improvements in education on medical cannabis for medical purposes. That would be a beneficial job of work for the Government to undertake to ensure health professionals are made aware of all of the information and have access to the same kind of information as their colleagues. That should be facilitated by the Government.

Such improvements will benefit medical and healthcare professionals, as well as their patients, many of whom are crying out for legislation on medicinal cannabis. One such person is Vera Twomey, who has been a tireless campaigner for her daughter, Ava. Ms Twomey will confirm that everything is a battle. She has fought all of the way and continues to fight. She should not have to do that. We need to ensure these changes are introduced and this debate goes hand in glove with calls for legislation on medicinal cannabis. We also need to look at the long-term illness scheme. It would be remiss of me not to mention this issue, which others also raised. The scheme is nearly 50 years old and it has reached the stage where it should be re-examined. No one in this House, on any side, is in a position to defend the scheme.

Coming back to those who contact my office and the offices of all other Deputies and are at home in pain as they watch this debate, it would be good if we had something positive to tell them, rather than just nice words. I reiterate and agree with the call made by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. I ask that these suggestions be examined by the Government. They need not be undertaken as a whole if the Government cannot support doing so. The Government should, however, examine individual elements on which it might be possible to make some progress. It might be possible then to have something positive to report that will result in some action being taken for those who are suffering with fibromyalgia.

They suffer in silence. The chronic pain people suffer has already been described; I do not need to go into it. I am in receipt of the same emails as everyone else, emails in which people describe what it is like to live with a debilitating ongoing condition. It would be good if we had something positive to say to those people as a direct result of this debate.

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