James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their co-operation and support for the Bill. I also thank the Department and all of those who worked on the Bill.
An issue relating to the Bill was reported in The Sunday Business Postwhich indicated that patients' records were somehow made available to pharmaceutical companies and insurers. I want to put on the record of the House the fact that the HSE has confirmed that the healthcare pricing office does not - and I repeat does not - make hospital patients' personal records available to pharmaceutical companies, insurers or any other companies or entities. However, it does provide statistics on hospital activity. All data made available by the HPO is aggregate in nature which means patients cannot be identified. The type of data requested by agencies, external to the HSE, typically relates to aggregated statistical data at a national level, not at patient or hospital level. For instance, a query could relate to the number of hip replacements carried out in a given year. The release of this type of statistical data does not represent a breach of confidentiality. There is a lot more to be said. The Bill, in no way, will enable a further disclosure of people's information and in fact it protects further against same.