Dr. David McFadden:

I cannot really add much more than what has been said. Mr. Newham was correct in saying we must be very careful in the use of PPS numbers for general data protection regulation, GDPR, purposes. Also it would defeat the purpose if we were to retain those numbers and make them in some way available. It would make name personation so much easier. It is proposed that at the point where information is being uploaded onto the system, a person's PPS number would be submitted and verified via a portal through the Department of Social Protection. We would get the all-clear that that person’s details match or a flag will be raised at which point a query may have to be addressed. It is certainly not in anyone’s interest that we would be in a position where we would be holding that information and making it public. That would be counterproductive. I do not know if there is much more I can add to that. It will certainly be a positive addition to ensuring integrity of information and, hopefully, avoiding some of the conduct I described to Deputy O’Reilly where people’s identity had been personated. If people's PPS numbers are being used to verify their identity in first instance, it will help to greatly reduce the personation we have noticed in recent times.