James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have considered the matter further since the Deputy moved this amendment on Committee Stage but I have not changed my mind. However, I hope I can clarify how the identifier system will work to greatest effect without the need for people to know their IHI unless they want to. I think that is the Deputy's principal concern, and I am confirming here that the identifiers will be accessible to those who wish to know them. There is no issue in that regard. The Bill already provides in section 5 that the Minister may put in place measures that he or she considers appropriate to assist in enabling an individual to have his or her IHI made known to him or her. It is not intended to systematically notify the population at large, individually and directly, of their IHI for several reasons. A mailing campaign to provide all citizens with their IHI would be costly, with no obvious offsetting benefit, given the way the identifier system will work. Such a campaign would include advising many citizens of a number for which they might not have a use for many years. It would also introduce unnecessary risks to privacy and the risk of identity theft, for example, due to the delivery of IHI numbers to out-of-date addresses and so forth. It is the intention that a major public information exercise will be undertaken at the appropriate time when the implementation process is advanced to advise both providers and patients about the introduction of the IHI, how the identifier system will work, the benefits of the system and how the IHIs will be assigned and managed. It will also make clear that anyone who wants to know his or her IHI can seek it from the HSE but will not need to provide it when accessing health care. That is an important point which we covered on Committee Stage. Not having or knowing one's IHI will not prevent one from receiving a service, should that be necessary.

It should be clear, therefore, that there is no intention in any way to discourage or prevent interested citizens from being advised of their IHI. If there are difficulties, the Minister can invoke section 5(4)(a) to put in place measures to make people aware of their IHI and deal with the specifics of any problem. I will not be accepting the Deputy's amendment for the reasons outlined.

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