Data sharing and Governance Bill: Policy Proposals  Client Identity Services [CIS] is the area within the Department of Social Protection that manages the PPS No. and the Public Service Identity [PSI] on behalf of the Minister.  Data may only be shared using the PPS No. as a common identifier where the sharing is authorised by law e.g. Data Protection or Social Welfare law.  The legislation governing the use of the PPS Number is contained in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (amended). Only bodies specified in statute or their agents can use the PPS Number pursuant to Sections 262 to 270 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (amended).  Section 262 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 provides for Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs)/Public Service Identity (PSI) dataset. This section also provides the statutory basis for data sharing i.e. for sharing a person’s PSI data set as between Specified Bodies and Specified Bodies are expressly authorised to use a person’s PSI data set in the performance of their public functions insofar as they relate to the person concerned. CIS Obs  The proposed Data Sharing and Governance Bill does not contain anything that either proposes or restricts data sharing provided for in Section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (amended). Edel Mc Gloin Client Identity Services Department of Social Protection Shannon Lodge Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim 071 9672656 [email protected]