Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

In the opening statement we do say legislation is one of the confusions that has frustrated the sharing of data in the Irish system. There is culture and behaviour, which we will work on as well, and maybe clarity on the information requirements. However, I think the legacy and the nature of the Irish health and social care system, with its complex public, private, voluntary and charity mix, that background, has complicated and frustrated the flow and the linkage of health information in the Irish system. We have adopted a very cautious interpretation of the general data protection regulation in this country, while other European member states have managed to link health information and develop summary care records under the GDPR. The black hole on our side has emerged because of confusion about the obligations of private providers or voluntary providers to participate in a national system. This legislation is crystal clear on the obligations of any health and social care provider, regardless of its status, public, private, voluntary or charity, to provide information and maintain up-to-date health records for the citizens of Ireland. It will remove any legislative excuses for not sharing health information, and we will work on any other barriers there because it is in people's interest.