Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Collins for raising this matter. I want to pay tribute to Vera Twomey because if she was watching this she would be the first to say that she and I had a very testy relationship at the start. However, I very quickly realised that Vera was a mum who would do anything for her child. I think of poor Vera and the late Ava today. They changed Ireland in terms of the reforms that were brought about. I remember signing the licence for Ava to get access to medicinal cannabis in order to bring her some degree of ease from the most horrific situation. We owe Vera a debt of gratitude for the work she did and I thank her for that. I remember poor Ava fondly and I think of her and Vera and her family today.

I will ask the Department of Health where this is at and how it intends to act on that recommendation. It is important the recommendation is taken seriously. Currently, there are two separate programmes, the legislative medical cannabis access programme, MCAP, and the administrative ministerial licence programme. I will come back to the Deputy directly on the matter.

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