James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There may well be. The point, however, is that it is not ultimately about the number of systems but the degree of connectivity between them and having a portal through which they can all interact. This is not an issue unique to Ireland. It is a problem I discussed with the Swedish Minister only a few days ago at an EU meeting. A coherent e-health strategy is critical from the point of view of putting more coherence into the system and also in regard to patient safety, in terms of ensuring staff have the right patient in front of them with the right information.

I have already referred to tourism, but it is a fact that people tend to revisit this country having had a good experience here. We like to encourage that. It will be very easy for such people to get their IHI by informing the health service staff they encounter that they have been here before, in which case the provider will be able to find their IHI.