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Saturday 2 December 2023 Dublin: 4°C

# Public Services Card

Last year
2022
Alleged excessive data gathering by Department of Social Protection being examined
Noteworthy investigation reveals the Department had a database of individual free travel journeys until 2020.
The Data Protection Commission is looking at use of free travel pass data, writes Maria Delaney
Noteworthy investigation reveals the Department had a database of free travel journeys until 2020
We also find Leap card system usage records, including journey data, are being retained for over a year
42.0k
22
May 4th 2022, 12:05 AM
All time
Department acknowledges no legal basis for mandatory Public Services Card to access services other than welfare
The agreement comes as part of a pre-trial agreement that resolves a court appeal the Department was taking against a ruling by the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
A court appeal has been dropped after an agreement between the Department of Social Protection and the Data Protection Commission.
In a 2019 ruling, the DPC had found that a PSC should not be required to receive State services such as a driver’s licence or passport.
A PSC is still required to apply for a Driving Licence online but the RSA says people can also apply in person without one.
Tusla 'accidentally disclosed' contact and location information of mother and child victim to alleged abuser
'I won't lower myself': Angry clashes at committee as Doherty defends government stance on PSC
58.4k
53
Updated
Dec 10th 2021, 5:34 PM
Dept said PSC staff would be ‘phased out’ this year. There’s still 80 employed
Unions had sought permanent contracts for some of these workers, but failed in a number of cases last year.
32.1k
18
Dec 29th 2019, 12:05 AM
'I won't lower myself': Angry clashes at committee as Doherty defends government stance on PSC
There were testy exchanges between the minister and committee members in the Oireachtas this morning.
27.4k
41
Nov 21st 2019, 12:52 PM
Needing a PSC for National Childcare Scheme is 'illegal and highly discriminatory'
The ICCL said a PSC requirement forces people “to hand over their data in exchange for services to which they are already entitled”.
10.3k
16
Nov 20th 2019, 6:10 AM
Pulling mandatory PSC for passports had 'whole of government repercussions', civil servants warned
New documents have shown how the Passport Office considered its options before pulling the PSC as a mandatory requirement.
25.1k
17
Nov 10th 2019, 12:05 AM
Department boss says he's 'satisfied' the Public Services Card rollout is value for money
The Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection is due before the PAC today.
10.9k
24
Nov 7th 2019, 8:37 AM
Civil servants plotting mobile phone 'facial recognition' to boost sign-ups for controversial MyGovId platform
You need a PSC to get a MyGovId, and senior civil servants have looking at expanding the services available on it.
34.9k
64
Oct 28th 2019, 12:05 AM
Senior civil servant said media outlets had 'agenda' against the Public Services Card
The government’s chief information officer singled out the Irish Times in a mail sent to other senior civil servants.
21.2k
50
Oct 23rd 2019, 6:05 AM
Making PSC mandatory for all passport applications would have meant 'significantly' longer waiting times
The Department of Foreign Affairs was unwilling to make it a requirement.
8.6k
17
Sep 24th 2019, 6:00 AM
Civil servants were told to look at replacing the Medical Card with the Public Services Card
As recently as June this year, the government was exploring this as a possibility.
23.2k
73
Sep 22nd 2019, 12:05 AM
So, what do you need a Public Services Card for right now?
The government is ploughing ahead with its support for the card, but what do you need it for right now?
37.8k
34
Sep 21st 2019, 7:30 AM
Top civil servant not attending committee is 'an affront to democracy'
Chairperson John McGuinness says committee wants to discuss the cost of the PSC to date.
39.2k
81
Sep 21st 2019, 12:05 AM
Public Services Card no longer needed to apply for a passport
The Taoiseach says the Data Commissioner has declined to meet with Minister Doherty.
25.2k
50
Updated
Sep 18th 2019, 4:42 PM
Criminal sanctions possible if government ignores watchdog’s orders on Public Services Card
The long-awaited report into the card was published yesterday evening.
19.1k
101
Sep 18th 2019, 12:08 AM
Government claims that withdrawal of PSC could be illegal as it sets up battle with data watchdog
A long-awaited probe into the legality of the card was published this evening.
13.8k
57
Sep 17th 2019, 6:38 PM
Taoiseach: 'Anyone that reads the law will understand why we disagree with the Data Commissioner's report'
The Taoiseach confirmed that the government has yet to file any court documents appealing findings by the Data Protection Commissioner.
23.7k
76
Sep 14th 2019, 11:19 AM
The Explainer: Why is there so much controversy over the Public Services Card?
It’s a saga that has been rumbling on for years – but what exactly is it all about?
13.5k
43
Sep 13th 2019, 5:30 PM
Minister to publish Commission's PSC report 'in the next week or so'
The government is in a showdown with the Data Protection Commissioner over a report on the legality of the PSC.
20.5k
51
Sep 12th 2019, 5:26 PM
Shane Ross says his officials were 'vindicated' over stance on Public Services Card for driving tests
The decision was made in March 2018 to not make the controversial card mandatory for a driving test.
26.9k
34
Sep 8th 2019, 6:30 AM
Data Protection Commission to seek enforcement action over government's refusal to comply with PSC findings
The government is challenging the findings of a landmark report into the legality of the card.
26.4k
33
Sep 5th 2019, 7:14 PM
Why is the government set for a showdown in court over the findings of the PSC report?
The government has said this week it will not be implementing the findings of the Data Protection Commissioner.
14.0k
63
Sep 5th 2019, 12:05 AM
Government to continue processing PSC data in defiance of Data Protection Commissioner ruling
The DPC ruled that there was no legal basis for the Government to process data for the card last month.
13.4k
45
Sep 4th 2019, 10:04 AM
'A mistake government doesn't need to make': Refusing to publish PSC report 'absurd', activists claim
Minister Regina Doherty said 11 days ago the report would be published once her department had considered it.
14.5k
47
Sep 3rd 2019, 5:32 PM
PSC training manuals for civil servants: Facial image matching, 'voice biometrics' and identity tokens
Facial recognition is highlighted a number of times across the circulars issued to civil servants on the PSC.
23.7k
62
Aug 26th 2019, 12:05 AM
Dept Social Protection to publish Commission's PSC report 'once full consideration is complete'
The DPC rejects government claims that making the card a requirement for services was lawful.
16.3k
52
Aug 22nd 2019, 2:18 PM
'There's no get out jail free card on this': What next for the Public Services Card?
The findings by the Data Protection Commissioner open up the possibility of legal action from PSC holders, solicitors say.
34.3k
60
Aug 18th 2019, 7:15 AM
Government will 'very seriously' consider commissioner's report into Public Services Card
The Data Protection Commissioner reject Government claims that making the card a requirement for services was lawful.
14.5k
53
Aug 16th 2019, 9:30 PM
Department told to destroy documents belonging to 3.2 million citizens it kept after PSC applications
The Data Protection Commissioner has found that there is no lawful basis for retaining information from PSC applications.
34.8k
81
Aug 16th 2019, 12:07 AM
'Misleading' to claim having PSC makes applying for driver's licence easier, Data Protection Commissioner says
The National Driver’s Licence Service says that having a PSC “simplifies” the process of application.
20.1k
32
Aug 16th 2019, 12:05 AM
No legal basis for mandatory Public Services Card to access State services other than welfare, landmark probe finds
The Data Protection Commissioner’s long-awaited report has huge implications for the controversial card.
33.7k
119
Aug 16th 2019, 12:01 AM
'Spark public debate': Spotlight on Public Services Card as data watchdog probe at 'advanced stage'
The long-awaited report on the legality of the PSC is expected in the near future.
34.0k
65
Aug 3rd 2019, 10:00 PM
Vast majority of organisations asked about the PSC said they don't benefit from using it
The Irish Council of Civil Liberties said that there was some confusion and inconsistency from local authorities and other bodies.
18.4k
26
Jul 19th 2019, 6:20 AM
'I would have the legs cut off me': Doherty says she won't release PSC report until she's given go-ahead
Minister Regina Doherty clashed with Mick Wallace over the Public Services Card earlier this week.
52.0k
64
Feb 24th 2019, 7:30 AM
'I felt so humiliated, I burst into tears': Woman questions why she was asked for adoption cert when applying for PSC
The woman’s adopted status is not well known and she was unaware she would have to discuss the topic in public.
67.4k
15
Feb 17th 2019, 8:30 PM
Opinion: The PSC could become the most expensive administrative error in the history of the State
Three million Irish citizens could be entitled to compensation if the project is found to be unlawful, writes Simon McGarr.
32.5k
41
Jan 21st 2019, 7:00 AM
Government won't release Public Services Card report due to 'public interest' fears
The group intends to appeal this decision to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
89.7k
104
Updated
Jan 14th 2019, 7:33 PM
PSC staff losing battle to stay on as department confirms contracts to be 'phased out' in 2019
A number of workers have been unsuccessful in cases at the Workplace Relations Commission arguing their right to a permanent contract.
48.4k
47
Dec 9th 2018, 6:05 AM
Facial imaging software has been used to detect €4 million worth of identity fraud
The department has pinpointed 28 cases in this year alone.
25.2k
84
Sep 12th 2018, 5:07 PM
Competitors for €9.4 million PSC contract backed out due to 'unfair advantage' being given to company that won
Security Card Concepts (formerly Biometric Card Services), the company responsible for producing the PSC since 2010, eventually won the bumper contract as the sole bidder
41.4k
65
Aug 13th 2018, 12:05 AM
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