Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We support this Bill. As I noted on Second Stage, there are some variables to consider with regard to cost and technology required to back this up. Is what we have sufficient and how much will it cost to run this process? Will the appropriate resources be available? There must be a cross-departmental approach to these issues, taking in social welfare, health and justice, as data protection can be a barrier to the success or the aspirations of a Bill like this. We all agree in principle with the identifier system but there is a question of how best to take it forward. That does not detract from the amendment forwarded by Sinn Féin on eligibility and entitlement of people to gain the appropriate treatment, which is an old chestnut of mine. For now at least, we welcome this as a small step in the right direction.