All farmers will be forced to apply for EU funds online from next year
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has refused to rule out the prospect that controversial Public Services Cards (PSCs) will be required for more than a hundred thousand farmers to apply for EU payments.
Read more: IE: Creed refuses to rule out need for ID cards for farmers
Civil rights campaigners say they are seeking clarity around the mandatory use of the public services card as the Government confirmed it will be required to secure passports in future.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said all passport applicants would need to have the card in 12 months. But opposition TDs have queried the legality of it being mandatory.
Read more: IE: Public services card to be needed for passport applications
Fresh concern about State sharing of citizens’ data after publication of new strategy
An identity card currently held by more than two million people has so far prevented just €2.5million worth of welfare fraud, figures from the Department of Social Protection show.
Public services cards, the issuing of which will have cost €60 million by the end of the year, were first provided to social welfare customers and people claiming certain State benefits. They are now being rolled out to all citizens and the Government has said they will be required for certain services, such as obtaining passports and driving licences.
Read more: IE: Average fraud saving of €1.16 for each public services card issued
Republic’s new eGovernment Strategy includes developing e-ID capability, work on national data infrastructure and legislation to support data sharing
The Government of the Republic of Ireland has laid out plans for a Digital Service Gateway as a prime element of a new eGovernment Strategy designed for the period up to 2020.
The level of engagement of Irish internet users has grown in the last year, according to a new European Union scoreboard.
The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) found increases in the percentage of the population using online shopping, social networks, video calls, and consuming online news.
Read more: Irish internet users becoming more engaged - study