Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has gone some way to answering some of my concerns with regard to amendment No. 3. This is not a criticism of the Parliamentary Counsel, as I have been a Member of the House for a while and I understand the legalese that is necessary in the preparation of legislation and the explanatory memorandum, but I found the explanatory memorandum heavy work in this instance.

Perhaps the Parliamentary Counsel will appreciate my remarks and revisit it.

Can the Minister, in his own words, give an assurance about the full implications of the passage of the Bill? For instance, it was my initial understanding that we were dealing with individual identifier numbers that would assist patients in their dealings with GPs and GP referrals to hospitals, hospital accident and emergency departments, etc. Also, it would ensure people would have immediate access to the full facts on any one of us.

There is also the issue of the gathering of statistics and building files on individual citizens which we must tease out here. There is some concern among people and, naturally, they have had an initial reaction to that type of further oversight and information gathering. All of us need to be in a position to assure them - if we support the passage of the legislation - that the provision is first and foremost in the interest of the individual citizen.

I listened to what the Minister had to say and acknowledge that his explanation went some way to clarifying the matter but I ask him to expand on it. Are there sufficient safeguards in place to protect the personal data of citizens? Colleagues have raised the question with me.

Amendment No. 3 covers the carrying out of research and suggests that private concerns which carry out research, such as research institutes and pharmaceutical companies, would have access to a person's personal data. Can the Minister answer my question and give an assurance which we can relay? Can he assure us that people's personal data will not be utilised except in their primary interest and the interest of the most successful management of all their healthcare needs, which is the primary focus and intent of the legislation.