Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge I am not surprised. Nevertheless, it is important that the points I have made are taken on board. I am anxious that we get to a position in which people's entitlement to and eligibility for health services is affirmed. This is something that is not currently confirmed in the Constitution nor in any legislation of which I am aware, which is a major failure on the part of legislators.

I believe the statement in the Bill, which so negatively states that it does not accord entitlement to or eligibility for services, is unnecessary when the purpose of the individual health identifier is already well explained within the body of the legislation.

I believe subsection 5(3) is an unnecessary and regrettable inclusion, taking as it does a most negative position with regard to people's entitlement to and eligibility for health services. I can do no more at this point in time than record the fact that I do not support the inclusion of subsection 5(3) in the legislation as now presented on Report Stage.

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