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

The Minister's argument broadly relies on possible identity theft and other matters, many of which could apply to any of the other situations where citizens have numbers within the system - I have already made reference to the PPS number, and there are numerous other examples one could cite. I do not know that it is beyond the Minister's capacity to find a way to provide the IHI number to citizens without running the risk or risks to which he refers. I am sure there are vehicles by which that could be put in train - through the GP network, for example, or any number of other means. These numbers may very well be, in terms of the outworking of this legislation, already to hand. It is about having a willingness to find a means to do it. Now the responsibility lies with the individual, who must be proactive if he or she wishes to secure his or her number. I was not ruling that out entirely, but the entitlement is there and I believe the Minister could identify measures by which this could be done. I hold the view that this is a right and am surprised that under data protection legislation we are not entitled to this information in any event. I take the view that we are entitled to it because the number relates to us as individuals. We are clearly not going to agree. The Minister believes it is a "may" and I believe it is a "shall". I wish to press my amendment.

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