Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

400. To ask the Minister for Health if he will approve a drug manufactured by a company (details supplied) as part of the medicinal cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32803/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The products you refer to are manufactured by the dispensing pharmacy in the Netherlands. Owing to Dutch government restrictions cannabis-based oils may not be commercially exported to pharmacies or wholesalers however they will allow the filling of individual prescriptions for collection by the patient, the patient’s family or a representative.

Representations were made to the Dutch authorities about having the products exported to Ireland to facilitate their inclusion in the Access Programme if the producers wished to do so. The Dutch authorities replied that magistral preparations may only be provided directly to patients or their representative on the basis of a prescription, presented for dispensing.

Since April 2020, owing to the pandemic the Department has been collecting patient’s prescriptions from the Netherlands and delivering them to patients' homes. These collections take place approximately every four weeks and will continue post-pandemic.

As a result of the prohibition of commercial export of the cannabis-based products the manufacturers cannot apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority to have the products included in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.