Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome this Bill. Ireland ranks lowest among OECD countries in its ability to link and access data. This Health Information Bill represents a critical step towards modernising Ireland's healthcare system by providing a legal basis for digital health records and facilitating the sharing of patient data. The Bill aims to improve patient care and bring Ireland into line with international standards. This is only one small cog in the wheel, and it is very important, but there are so many other things. It is heartbreaking.

I was also in the audiovisual room with the scoliosis patients. It is terrible to see the way they have been neglected. I sat here before the Minister of State's party leader, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, in 2022. He got cross with me when I asked him when €5 million that had been promised was going to be made available . Since then, we have had terrible cases, including that of Liam Quinn in Kerry, involving people being left waiting. Fortunately, Mr. Quinn had his operation last June after so many false dawns. It is great to know that he is improving a little and the difference the operation the operation has made. He can now eat and is improving daily. We should let any of the children in the audiovisual room suffer any longer. I ask the Minister of State to make sure they do not suffer.

I know the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the President and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, are all over in New York and elsewhere.

It is here in that room they should be today, and I make no apologies for saying that. I know it is hard for people to divide their time but they need to see that. I ask the Minister of State to make sure they see what happened in the audiovisual room today.

I had occasion last weekend to be in a hospital with one of my very good friends who was taken ill. I see what the nurses are going through and the way they are writing everything down. It is written down twice or three times. In addition to caring for the patient, there is the way they meticulously take down data about the patient so it is there for the next shift or for the next doctor to see. Is there any way that could be speeded up? Would there be any way that maybe you do not have to be a nurse to take down those records? That is what I am trying to say. There should be clerical staff there to help the nurses because in the middle of the night, those nurses are working alone trying to take down the data, mind the patient, mind the people who are with the patient and see that the doctors come in on time or whatever. They are under savage pressure. Any way that would improve their recording of data would be very helpful. I ask the Minister of State to look into that as well because it is very important.

The other thing I am concerned about is data theft, cybersecurity breaches, etc. I wonder if patients' records could be compromised or obliterated as a result of something like what is proposed. There is still need for information to be written down as well in order to ensure that we can go back if a breach or something like that happens. Of course, the patient and the family need to give their agreement and written understanding to what is happening.

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