Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Health Information Bill. Fianna Fáil welcomes and supports this legislation. It provides, for the first time, a clear legal basis for digital health records in Ireland and it is a foundational reform for how care will be delivered into the future.

At its core, this Bill is about patients. It will give people easier and more meaningful access to their own health information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and their care. It establishes the legal basis for digital health records, allows greater patient access to information, and facilitates the appropriate sharing of care records to support integrated care.

Integrated care, as envisaged under Sláintecare, depends on having the right information in the right place at the right time. This Bill helps to make that a reality. It allows healthcare professionals to see a more complete and holistic picture of the patient they are treating, while reducing duplication, delays and inefficiencies across the system.

The Bill empowers the HSE to draw together health information from public, private and voluntary care settings. It is very disappointing to hear about the one hospital that has not come on board. That is essential if we are serious about delivering continuity of care and improving outcomes. Paper-based systems are no longer fit for purpose in a modern health service.

This legislation is also central to Ireland meeting its obligations under the European health data space regulation. The Bill supports the implementation of Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024 to 2030 and the HSE's implementation roadmap. Together, they set out a clear path to the full digitisation of health records, in line with the programme for Government and the principles of Sláintecare.

We are already seeing progress. The HSE health app, launched in February 2025, has been downloaded by over 140,000 people, with more than 91,000 users accessing their personal health information, which is absolutely brilliant for people. Its expanded functionality is improving patient engagement and reducing missed appointments. That is something we often speak about. The app has been co-designed with patients, staff and advocacy groups, which is essential for public trust and uptake. The figures show that it has been successful.

The national shared care record is another critical building block. Its roll-out will allow key health information from hospitals, GPs and community services to be viewed in one place at the point of care. That means safer clinical decisions, less time spent chasing information and more time spent caring for patients. A phased roll-out is due to begin later this year, with national expansion from 2026.

Looking ahead, the national electronic health record represents the most ambitious transformation programme in the history of the health service. Government approval to begin procurement marks a major milestone. A national EHR will give clinicians access to a patient's full medical history in real time, across all care settings, while empowering patients with access to their own records. It will reduce duplication, improve safety and support truly integrated care.

The Bill underpins all of that work. It establishes a duty to share health information for care and treatment, strengthens protections around the primary use of health data and enhances patient safety through robust identification processes, including best-practice use of eircodes and PPS numbers. It also improves the quality of health information available to the HSE for public interest purposes, including planning and service delivery.

The Bill is technical but its impact is profound. It is the legal foundation for a digital health service. It means better care, quicker access to information, greater patient control, and more cost-effective use of public resources. It allows healthcare workers to spend less time dealing with paperwork, which I am sure they would be happy about, and more time treating patients.

Ireland has lagged behind other EU countries in giving citizens access to their own electronic health records and that gap is no longer acceptable. This Bill, alongside the digital for care strategy, is how we close it. In supporting this legislation, we are laying the groundwork for a safer, more connected and more patient-centred health service. Fianna Fáil strongly supports the Health Information Bill as a landmark reform that will deliver lasting benefits for patients, healthcare professionals and the wider health system.