Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I totally understand the intent of the amendment. I have drafted amendments along this line for the same reasons in various contexts. Section 6 contains a provision that "The Minister shall review or cause to be reviewed ... no later than 5 years", but that is not what the Deputy is suggesting at all. I understand what he is trying to achieve and the need for it. This should not require a statutory basis. I should do this review anyway, in co-operation with the committee and proactively, and then offer it to the committee, rather than being required to do it by statute. There is a shared interest in making sure this happens.

I note that the Department of public expenditure and reform is now the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. I am quite sure, therefore, that officials in that Department share the sense of urgency I have about the need to ensure that electronic health records progress efficiently and in a well-funded way. Members might take the view that they wish to interview officials from the Department of public expenditure, and potentially the Minister, should they find it necessary. I am making the best business case I can in the national development plan review for doing this in a staged and managed way that achieves this outcome in the coming years. I will have no difficulty coming before the committee at any time with a report. I am not sure we need a statutory basis for that and, on that basis, I will not accept the amendment. We just need to do it anyway.