Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The first objective of the Bill is to support the development of better information systems, information capacity, data quality and the e-health agenda. To what extent do we compare with other jurisdictions under each of the aforementioned headings? What information has been requested from other jurisdictions in terms of how they have progressed in this area? Are we up to speed? Have we identified the precise areas where we need to improve and do we have the capacity to improve? Are there any issues arising that have yet to be determined?

The second objective of the Bill is to encourage health research in Ireland. Health research is an important element of the development and evolution of a health service. What are the weaknesses in health research in this country as compared with other jurisdictions? For example, to what extent do we allow modern technology such as e-systems to be incorporated into the research that takes place here? Do we have access to what prevails in other jurisdictions, not only in Europe but globally and how do we aspire to achieve their levels of efficiency, capacity and response?

The third objective of the Bill is to strengthen patients' rights in relation to health information in specific areas. In regard to patients' rights and given the experiences of the past number of years in terms of incidents that have occurred, the conditions prevailing at the time, whether or not adequate information was made available, subsequently, to the patient, will all information be made available to patients in future? Patient rights are applicable prior to and after an event has taken place particularly if the outcome of that event was not as satisfactory as it could or should have been from the point of view of the patient.

Reference was made to the Data Protection Commissioner and to the lengthy engagements between the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, and the Data Protection Commissioner. Presumably, the role of the Data Protection Commissioner is to ensure the information is provided to the patient or an authorised person or association.