Deputy Gino Kenny: Earlier this week, the Health Research Board, HRB, published a report on the future of the medical cannabis access programme, MCAP. It is an extensive report of over 220 pages. While it addresses the limitations around medical cannabis, it endorses expanding the programme, particularly for people with nerve pain and neuropathic pain. Thus far, the MCAP has been extremely restrictive, with only 50 people prescribed medical cannabis since the scheme was set up in 2019. The majority of people who want to access the programme cannot access it. Does the Tánaiste agree the programme is very restrictive? Will he endorse its expansion to include other conditions?

The Tánaiste: In 2019, I worked from the Opposition benches with the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, on the setting up of a scheme for medical cannabis use. That scheme now operates through licences issued by the Minister. I favour anything that has an evidence basis to it, including when it comes to expanding the medical cannabis access programme. However, it needs careful consideration and good evaluation. The Deputy indicated that nerve pain and pain generally is the area people are suggesting for expansion. It certainly is an area that could lend itself to the use of medical cannabis. At the moment, the drug is used for severe, refractory epilepsy, spasticity as a result of multiple sclerosis and nausea as a result of chemotherapy. We need a stronger evidence basis for its clinical efficacy. Now we have had 50 cases, we need to bring the perspectives of the medical community into the equation a bit more.

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The Tánaiste: Deputy Kenny has left the Chamber but I put on the record that a clinical review group is being established to follow up on the HRB report.