David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not envy the witnesses at all.

I wish the Department of Health well in the work it is doing. The Health Information Bill 2023 is very good legislation from the get-go and its intent, depth, and breadth are very impressive. I fully support the practical measures proposed in it. We need to see them happen. I do not blame the officials present for the legacy issues but they will understand our frustration that this practical Bill that can do good things will be impeded by those legacy issues. Investments should have been made over a long period and had we had those investments and with more work on areas such as the individual patient identifier, IPI, and electronic health records, we would be in a much better position. That is just a starting point.

I want to get something clear because it is a bit confusing. When I read the documentation for this session I found it difficult to get my head around some of the terminology used in the Bill. I understand it is complex and difficult legislation. I will start with the IPI.