Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply.

I thank the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly - I always believe in calling a spade a spade - for sorting out the medicinal cannabis access for Vera Twomey's daughter Ava and for so many sufferers who desperately need access to this medicine. However, people are suffering from the worry of losing their eyesight. They are contacting me and other politicians to find out if they can access cross-border care of a different type from 1 January next. There is no point saying they may for a month or two or that it might or might not be in place. It is quite simple. The Taoiseach says there will be extra resources to have these procedures carried out in the South, which is 100% commendable, but it might not happen in places such as Cork. It might be a year or two before these surgical areas are resolved.

In the past week a Fine Gael Senator in south-west Cork said that this is resolved and that people can go to the North. How is it that he has information? He told the Southern Starnewspaper I was scaremongering, that this is resolved and he asked what was wrong with me now. His leader has not said it is resolved. The Taoiseach has not said it is resolved, but that the Government and the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, are working on it. Will there be a cross-border scheme next year? A seamless transition is what we are seeking. I am not suffering from any of these illnesses, but I am asking for the people who are in need of these surgeries. Will there be a seamless transition from the current scheme? I acknowledge the UK is leaving the EU, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that an agreement can be achieved, but this is the concern we have this year. I would appreciate if this could be resolved in the coming days for the 7,000 people who will require surgeries next year, or is it resolved?

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