Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. The Joint Committee on Health and Children will be dealing with the issue in detail on 28 March. It is important that this meeting is being held in advance of the deadline of 31 March 2013. It is very difficult to deal with an issue retrospectively. However, we need to consider further how to deal with it.

The Data Protection Commissioner indicated that the situation which has developed is unlawful. Our job is to deal with legislation and make things either lawful or unlawful. That is what we do every day of the week.

The information contained on the cards in question relates to matters about which we do not even know yet. It is an incredible resource, particularly in the context of any developments which might take place in the future in respect of diabetes, liver disease and - as the Irish Heart Foundation has pointed out - cardiac-related issues. Imagine what would be the position if it were possible to check the records to see who might have a predisposition to sudden adult death syndrome and to discover how we might deal with it. The type of resource that is available in this instance is both unique and incredible. We must examine how we can ensure that this resource will be protected. Perhaps the way to proceed is by introducing an opt-out clause. This is a very serious matter and we should not be rushed into dealing with it. We should take on board the Data Protection Commissioner's opinion but we must also consider how we can protect the resource.

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