5. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may assign a unique number (in this Act referred to as an “individual health identifier”) to—

(a) a living individual (whether or not the individual is ordinarily resident in the State) to whom a health service is being, has been or may be provided, or

(b) an individual who dies on or after the coming into operation of this section without having been assigned such number as a living individual.

(2) An individual health identifier shall, other than itself, contain no personal data.

(3) The assigning of an individual health identifier to an individual shall not be regarded in any way as indicating, in and of itself, an entitlement to, or eligibility for, the provision of a health service to the individual.

(4) (a) The Minister mayput in place measures, or cause to be put in place measures, that the Minister considers appropriate to assist in enabling an individual’s individual health identifier to be made known to him or her (or, in the case of a deceased individual, to be made known to the individual’s personal representative).

(b) Where an individual who has an individual health identifier may require the assistance of another person to obtain a health service (whether due to the age or lack of capacity of the individual or for any other reason), the Minister may put in place measures, or cause to be put in place measures, that the Minister considers appropriate to assist in enabling that identifier to be made known to that other person.

(5) The Minister may, for the purposes of any measures referred to in subsection (4), consult with such persons as he or she considers appropriate.