The government has promised that the Public Services Card would not be mandatory. But now the government has put forward an ‘eGovernment strategy’ that will force every citizen, young or old, rich or poor to have this card. You will not be able to travel abroad, claim a benefit or open a savings account without it. It is a compulsory ID card by the back door and there has been no consultation about this.
The Public Services Card is actually much bigger than the card itself. It is a plan that will result in the linking up of private, intimate details of Irish citizens’ lives across all sections of government, including the education system, Gardai and the Health Service. There is no legal framework to provide for this to be done in a fair, safe and legal manner. The Department of Public Enterprise’s draft ‘Data Sharing and Governance Bill’ would provide some basis for this, but it is only in the earliest stages of development.