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Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2019

Thursday, 16 May 2019

Ceisteanna (113, 114, 115)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

113. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 826 and 827 of 8 May 2019, if a person can have cannabis-based oil produced by a company (details supplied) collected by an appointed company not for commercial purposes but as a nominated representative or entity collecting the medication strictly on behalf of the person. [21220/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

114. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 826 and 827 of 8 May 2019, if a person can have cannabis-based oil produced by a company (details supplied) collected by an appointed representative strictly on behalf of the person and not for commercial purposes. [21221/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

115. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 826 and 827 of 8 May 2019, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that medical distribution companies are travelling to the Netherlands to collect medicinal cannabis on behalf of patients in Northern Ireland and delivering it to the patients; and the reason a similar arrangement cannot be achieved for patients here. [21222/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 115, inclusive, together.

As the deputy is aware, it is open to a registered medical practitioner to apply for a Ministerial licence under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2016. Such a licence, if granted, enables them to legally import, possess, prescribe, supply, and administer the Schedule 1 controlled drug - cannabis - for the patient named on the licence.

Licence holders can nominate a representative to collect the patients prescribed cannabis product on their behalf if, for example, the patient is not able to do this personally. At the time of applying for the Ministerial licence the applicant must provide the details of the nominated person who will be collecting the prescribed product on the patient’s behalf. That nominated person's name will then be included on the licence for this purpose. This is a matter for the patient and their prescriber.

We are aware that a UK company may provide a service which involves it collecting cannabis products from the Netherlands for persons authorised to use it under the UK medical cannabis regime.

While this company can import medical cannabis products into the UK from the Netherlands, the UK authorities do not currently allow re-export from the UK to other countries, which includes Ireland.

I have been informed that this UK company may be acting as the patient’s “nominated representative” in the collection of their personally prescribed medical cannabis products. No similar Irish entity is known to provide this service, but it is certainly open to any patient to engage a representative on their behalf in this regard, including a limited company.

It should be noted that the Irish Revenue and Customs Authorities have the final say in all such matters.

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