Suggestion public services card will be use as identity card ‘dishonest’

Small and medium-sized businesses have said the controversy surrounding the Government’s introduction of a public services card is “dishonest”, and described the intervention of the Data Protection Commissioner as “troubling”.

The commissioner's office on Wednesday said it had requested that the Department of Social Protection publish a comprehensive list of questions and answers relating to the project.

The card scheme and the sharing of data in the public sector have created controversy in the past week after The Irish Times reported that an elderly woman's pension had been cut off by the Department of Social Protection because she refused to register for the card.

In a statement on Thursday, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Isme) said it supported the widespread rollout of the card, which was originally introduced six years ago.

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“If the public services card did not exist Isme would insist that Minister [Regina] Doherty immediately introduce one,” it said. “We are particularly troubled by the intervention of the Data Protection Commissioner in the national media.

No absolute right

“Isme supports the commissioner’s call for a comprehensive set of FAQs in relation to the card. However, the innocent reader of the commissioner’s press statement on Wednesday might conclude she thought the State guilty of nefarious intent.

“Privacy is not an absolute right. It has to be balanced against our responsibilities to society, the rights of our neighbours, the rights of taxpayers to ensure their money is honestly spent.”

Isme pointed out that the Department of Social Protection was the biggest spender in the State, forecast to spend €19.9 billion this year out of total government expenditure of €68.7 billion.

“Taxpayers are entitled to know that this is being spent properly, lawfully, and solely upon those who are entitled to it,” it said.

“The conflation of the public services card with the identity card issue is contrived and dishonest. No one has suggested the public services card’s use as an identity card, and it is disingenuous to suggest so.

Driving licences

“Isme supports the use of the public services card for non-social protection transactions such as passport applications and driver licences. Many employers fear the hire of a driver who may have lost their licence, but has acquired a second clean one.

“Driving licences are also an acceptable form of identification for movement within the Common Travel Area. We need to ensure their issue is properly controlled.”

Isme chief executive Neil McDonnell said he has a public services card, but does not carry it.

“I have a PSC, albeit one without a photo. I never considered it an intrusion into my privacy. I had to get it to claim jobseeker’s allowance in 2013.

“No one other than the Department of Social Protection has asked me to produce it. It’s a good job the gardaí aren’t allowed to ask me for it. I never carry it.”