Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if legislation exists or is needed to govern the provision of medical information by non-medical professionals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13351/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 provide a statutory framework for the collection, use, disclosure, transfer and security of personal information. Under the Data Protection Acts, personal health information is identified as belonging to the category of sensitive information for which additional safeguards apply.

The National Health Information Strategy (2004) placed considerable emphasis on the privacy, confidentiality and security of health information in the context of developing a health system wide information governance framework. My Department is currently, in the initial stages, of preparing proposals for a Health Information Bill which will underpin the new framework. As part of that process, it is intended that there will be a wide-ranging public consultation exercise when the proposals have been drawn up.