Dr. Ronan Fawsitt:

The work of Richard Corbet in this regard has been exemplary and must be supported. The electronic health record, EHR, is absolutely vital to an integrated, joined-up health system. We are doing it on a human level, which also is necessary, but an EHR would make everything seamless and accountable and is the way to proceed. While projects such as the national medical imaging system, NIMIS, Healthlink and so on are delivering, they must be extended. All I wish to say to the Deputy is this model works.

We are a microcosm of Ireland nationally in terms of population, the percentages and so on. As approximately 40% of our population - perhaps 50% now on foot of the introduction of the under-six scheme -have medical card entitlements, we are a highly representative group in respect of what can happen in the community.