Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I read the guide and found it pretty useful. From Mr. Duggan's statement, it seems that one of the primary purposes of the card is to be an anti-fraud device. He emphasises that very strongly. We know social welfare fraud is a phenomenon here just as it is in every other country. The level here is relatively low, at around €40 million a year, which is not insignificant but it is a hell of a lot less than we were told during the anti-fraud campaign last year, when figures of €500 million were mentioned. The other aspect of the card is convenience, as one does not have to produce all this information every time one is looking for a passport or whatever. As Mr. Lowry has pointed out, it is very important that we be digitally up with our competitors.

On the controversy that has surrounded the public services card, Mr. Duggan says that if one produces the SAFE 2 evidence, one may get a card. Is that automatic? If someone applies for some sort of welfare benefit and produces the information sufficient to meet the requirements of SAFE 2, does he or she automatically get the card or does it have to be requested? People who come in with sufficient information to satisfy the requirements of SAFE 2 are being told they must produce the card before they are entitled to whatever they are looking for, be it a social welfare entitlement or whatever. If people go through the SAFE 2 process, can they say they do not want the card and would prefer to produce the information, however inconvenient it may be for themselves and the person dealing with them every time they come in? If somebody is not in possession of a card, the legislation states that the data on the card can be shared with other stipulated public bodies. If somebody does not seek the card but completes the SAFE 2 process, is that information also shared?

What exactly is the data commissioner investigating at the moment? It is taking quite a considerable length of time by all accounts. If everything is as straightforward, clear and above board as we are being told today, what precisely is she investigating?

How many public services cards are in existence at the moment and what was the cost of producing them?