770. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No. 2) regulations 2023 will extend to Irish citizens who are prescribed cannabis medicines; if his Department has nominated a body to issue and verify such certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26245/23] 

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health - Statutory Instrument 156/2023, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 provides for Schengen residents travelling into Ireland with prescribed Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 (under the Irish Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017) narcotics or psychotropic substances for their own personal use while in possession of a certificate pursuant to Article 75 of the Schengen Acquis. Currently Ireland does not permit the importation from the Schengen area of a prescribed cannabis-based product as that is a Schedule 1 controlled drug. The work for the provision of Article 75 certificates for Irish residents travelling to the Schengen zone with prescribed narcotics/psychotropic substances for personal use is underway. However the decision on what prescribed products may be allowed enter a country is a decision for the destination Schengen country and not one for the Schengen resident's country of origin within the zone.