Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

The first question related to the transfer of a GP practice and how the records might naturally be available. Clients of the practice would be alerted to the fact that it is closing down and would be offered an opportunity to indicate where they wanted their information transferred to. The money that has changed hands in acquiring the practice, with the records that remain which have not been indicated to go elsewhere, would not be considered as buying or selling patient information. It would be considered as a continuity of service, I would imagine, in relation to the practice. The penalties for buying and selling are to bring a lot of rigour and to show our determination to ensure that data collected for one reason are not used or abused for other reasons. It would not interfere with the transition of ownership of medical practices.