Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health decided to reject the draft Bill proposed by Deputy Gino Kenny. We took very detailed legal advice on the matter and it was found that the Bill had serious defects. It is important to convey the message that medicinal cannabis is available where a medical consultant is satisfied that it would benefit a patient. That consultant can apply to the Minister for a licence and once a licence is issued the product can be used.

It is a myth that medicinal cannabis is not available to anyone for medical reasons. The Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, issued a detailed report on the matter earlier in the year. It set out three areas where medicinal cannabis can be used. It is important to convey the message that the decision by the Oireachtas joint committee is not about preventing medicinal cannabis being used. The system has been set up whereby a medical consultant can apply for a licence and the product can be used once he or she is satisfied it will benefit the patient.

I wish to clearly state that there is no scientific evidence to support the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. There is a question to be answered when a GP prescribes it. Would a GP's professional indemnity policy adequately cover him or her if there was a subsequent claim against the GP for giving incorrect advice? A view exists that the committee took the wrong decision. I can confirm that all of the members who attended the meeting took the unanimous decision that the Bill, brought forward by Deputy Gino Kenny, was not the way to deal with this matter. The Minister has effectively dealt with the matter over the past six to eight months. It is important that we get that message out.

My colleague in the Seanad raised the issue of hospital appointments. I agree with him that there is a need for change in the area. Some hospitals have brought forward a change. There is a problem with people not turning up for appointments. I heard about one clinic recently where only three people turned up for the six available appointments.