Ms Tracey Conroy:

The Health Identifiers Act 2014 passed by the Houses provides the legislative framework for a national system of unique identifiers. I just wanted to provide some reassurances to the committee in that regard. If memory serves, the unique identifier element was removed from the Health Information Bill, as it was then titled, last year because there was a recognition within the Department that it needed to be prioritised as a result of the fact that it forms such a key part of the reforms we have been discussing at this meeting. My understanding is that the HSE is working to establish the individual health identifier registers that will be required across the board to manage the operation of the identifier system. No doubt a budget has been allocated in respect of this matter.