Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The jury is out on the appropriate electronic patient identifier. The general view is that the PPS is not appropriate for it, something else will be needed and the sooner we get it the better, not least for patient safety issues.

We are discussing the matter with the Data Protection Commission and we must satisfy the commissioner. The Revenue Commissioners require the PPS number to give the tax credit and the steps proposed in the legislation are not unreasonable. We are asked for our PPS numbers at present. I was looking at my health insurance renewal recently and there was a reference to the number on that, perhaps in preparation for this legislation.

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