Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

Today, I speak on behalf of Vera Twomey and her late daughter, Ava Barry. This is a story that embodies the courage of Irish families and the urgent need for compassionate healthcare reform. Ava suffered from Dravet syndrome and endured up to 500 seizures per month. When conventional treatments failed, Vera fought tirelessly for access to medicinal cannabis. She walked from Cork to Leinster House on two occasions, became a medical exile in the Netherlands and, ultimately, secured a licence for medication that reduced Ava's seizures by 70%, which allowed her to live with dignity. Even in hospital, Vera was the only person permitted to administer Ava's medication. This highlights a dangerous gap in our healthcare system. Ava passed away in May 2023 and at her inquest the jury recommended a national policy, now known as Ava's protocol, to oversee the administration of essential but unlicensed medicines. I ask the Government to formally adopt Ava's protocol and integrate it into national healthcare policy.

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