Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, concern changes to the definition of relevant employees and relevant agents. As the changes are similar in nature it is proposed to discuss the four amendments together. The Bill allows the Minister for Health to assign unique identifiers to health service providers. Providers must use their unique identifiers in health records they make and their communications relating to the provision of health services. Under the Bill, health service providers include health practitioners and health service bodies. Relevant employees and agents of these practitioners and bodies are also included as health service providers under the Bill. The proposed amendments are designed to facilitate a phased approach regarding assigning identifiers to these employees and agents. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 provide for the Minister to prescribe classes of agents for the purposes of the definition of a relevant agent and amendments Nos. 3 and 4 provide for the Minister to prescribe classes of employees for the purpose of the definition of a relevant employee.