Professor Shane Allwright is retired from Trinity College Dublin, where was professor in epidemiology in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, and latterly college registrar.

Her research interests include health effects of active and passive smoking and alcohol misuse; evaluation of tobacco and alcohol control policies; smoking cessation; and prisoner health.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill yesterday announced Professor Allwright’s appointment as chair of the review, which is set to last no more than 12 months.

The review follows the establishment of the medical cannabis access programme (MCAP) in 2021 and will examine current access to medical cannabis products and provide considered advice and recommendations to inform future policy and decision-making.

Ms Carroll MacNeill said: “I am pleased to appoint Professor Allwright as chair of the review group. This is an incredibly important piece of work, and I would like to thank Professor Allwright for agreeing to take on this role.

“I am confident that Professor Allwright’s extensive experience will ensure that the work of the group is thorough, balanced, and evidence-based.

“Under her leadership, the review group will make a valuable contribution to our understanding of this issue and to the development of effective health policy.

“I look forward to receiving the group’s report in due course and wish Professor Allwright every success in her appointment.”

Professor Allwright said: “This is an important and challenging review, on a topic of interest to many people, including patients and clinicians. It is a great honour to have been appointed by the Minister for Health to chair this working group.

“I look forward to bringing my national experience in public health policy to the role and to working with the Department of Health and with the subject experts appointed to the review group.”