John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This amendment would give insurers an unnecessary level of discretion in the collection and provision of information. The latitude proposed by the Senator is not considered appropriate. Subsection (1) already provides an undertaking to make all reasonable efforts to obtain the information. In other words, we are asking providers to do only what is reasonable. This strikes an appropriate balance.

The data requirements in respect of personal public service numbers have been discussed with the Data Protection Commissioner. The obligations under this legislation are much more restricted and less onerous than those contained in the Bill as initially published. The Revenue Commissioners require personal public service numbers to assign tax credits. As such, the steps proposed in the legislation are not unreasonable. I cannot accept the amendment.