Vol. 550 No. 2
328 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a request from the director of the Cancer Registry to clarify the issue of data protection in relation to the collection of information for disease analysis. [7990/02]
The National Cancer Registry has been in discussion with my Department in relation to information requirements. The national health strategy provides for the establishment of an independent health information and quality authority to lead the development of health information. While the health information and quality authority will exercise a pivotal role in relation to a number of key information functions, it is recognised that other information functions, such as data protection in relation to the collection of information, also need to be addressed to complement the work of agencies such as the National Cancer Registry. The soon to be published national health information strategy will provide the context for future development in this regard.
