Mr. Peter Lennon:

Yes. The PPS number, as the Senator will know, is already used in a number of areas of the health system. There is a degree of uncertainty and lack of clarity about its use. The particular provisions in the Bill relating to the use of PPS numbers were discussed fully with the Department of Social Protection and the DPC, amd the DPC just asked if we have a justifiable case for doing it. The main reason is of course that the health system is not a stand-alone system. It is part of a wider public service and societal system. We are going with that on the basis that the PPS number will be fully legislated for for full use within the health system.