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

I wish to ask the Minister a brief supplementary question. I do not doubt what he has assured me to be the case. Like him, I must confidently assuage people's fears and, therefore, ask him the following again. The Minister's amendment No. 3 is a substitute for an almost two-line provision that already exists on page 10 which states: "[T]he carrying out of health research that is the subject of a research ethics approval ... under an enactment or European act prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph." He has told me that the clinical data will not be accessible to those who are not the intended accessors to our individual needs. How can anything other than the information be of value in "the carrying out of health research" as provided for in his amendment? I am a little stumped by the amendment and did not purposely intend to labour the issue. Today's meeting is the appropriate opportunity to get as much clarity as we possible can. The Minister has acknowledged that he shares my concerns and that of Deputy Buttimer. Will he consider any other provision, amendment or strengthening mechanism that would give a greater assurance to public concern about this area? I do not doubt his intent which he explained.

The Minister has read the official note. It would be remiss of me if I did not focus on the fact that we are providing for access for health research purposes and without the clinical data I am at a loss to understand how that could be of any specific assistance. I am sure there is an answer. As it is not just for me, but for every citizen I ask the Minister to come back to it again.