Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

The health information and patient safety Bill has been developed over a number of years. When I referred to extensive consultation, it was extensive at an earlier point in the formulation of the general scheme. In recent months each party has been respectively digesting and studying the implications of the EU data protection regulation. From today, we commit to a series of intensive engagements with the Data Protection Commissioner to work through the issues, which we do not believe are insurmountable. We respect the views of the commission in respect of the role it should appropriately play in the schemes.