Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 268

Data exchange - health provisions

Section 268 allows designated bodies (e.g., the HSE) to share personal information about individuals using PPS numbers, where that sharing is authorised under the Health (Provision of Information) Act 1997.

• A specified body may share personal information about an individual with another specified body using that person's PPS number as the identifier.
• This sharing is permitted regardless of any restrictions that may exist in other legislation.
• The sharing must comply with the Health (Provision of Information) Act 1997.
• The PPS number itself is used only as a reference key — the actual information being shared (other than the PPS number) must be authorised under the 1997 Act.