Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As my colleagues have said, we are happy to support this Bill, which will seek to create digital health records for the first time. It would create much-needed streamlining in our health system.

My only criticism is that we are only starting the process now. We have been a long time talking about the need for digital health records and I imagine there are health staff across this State who are only delighted to see this Bill today. It is crazy that in 2024 we are still so heavily reliant on a pen-and-paper system of administration. We are already miles behind our European counterparts and we need to catch up fast. I hope this Bill goes some way to creating more time for staff to deal with patients and reduces time spent dealing with complex paper systems.

While the Bill is very welcome, we must still be mindful of people's right to privacy when it comes to sensitive health records. I hope that any data protection impact assessment carried out in line with section 10 is done relatively quickly in order that we can get this rolled out as soon as possible.

Section 12 contains a provision to withhold information from a patient where the medical professional believes that there is potential to cause serious harm. Will the Minister of State could explain the thinking here and the types of scenarios that are being legislated for? I have a similar question in respect of section 13. Again, what type of scenario the Minister is trying to pre-empt in the latter section?

Has the Minister received an estimated cost to the taxpayer for this entire project? What kind of timeframe are we looking at? People will be wondering about the amount of money involved and how quickly what is proposed can be rolled out. We all acknowledge that it is a massive job of work. Legislation is only the starting point.

In addition to the questions on how much it will cost and how long it will take, there are also questions around implementation. We need to know how the Minister intends to support and bring GPs and community-based services along with him in this process.

As already stated, we welcome the Bill. We are happy to support it, but I would really appreciate some clarity on the questions I have posed. I apologise to the Minister of State because I have to leave. I will not be in the Chamber when she replies but I will be watching.

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