Multiple Sclerosis Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Multiple Sclerosis Ireland

Date published 15 May, 2017

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2017 to 30 Apr, 2017

Specific Details Reimbursement of cannabis-based MS medication Sativex

Intended results Agreement from the HSE to reimburse Sativex and/or to make the medication available under the new Compassionate Access Programme announce by the HPRA in February 2017

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Harriet Doig

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Catherine Byrne, Minister for Drugs - requested that concerns regarding medicinal cannabis legislation are fed back to Minister for Health and that the HSE CPU are asked to look at reimbursement of Sativex again.

Email (2-5)

Emails sent to Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin requesting PQ be raised about Sativex, in light of HPRA report on medicinal cannabis.

Letter (1)

Submission to HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit on Sativex. Copy of correspondence sent to Minister for Health.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Byrne Minister of State (Department of Health)