Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will return to Ms McCabe.

Not too long ago, in 2019, the Data Protection Commission had issues around the public services card. It found that people accessing public services in Ireland should not be required to have a public services card. It was across a range of areas. That is why I am putting the question.

My second question is more for Mr. Lowry. Ms McCabe is co-ordinating this project. I note that she says in her opening statement:

The primary policy focus of our division in the Department is on the telecommunications sector. While the eIDAS regulation is not a telecommunications issue, the EU Telecommunications and Information Society Working Party is currently considering this proposal at European level and this Department is leading discussions in the negotiation.

That seems a slight contradiction in terms. In one breath, she says it is not a telecommunications issue, yet the EU Telecommunications and Information Society Working Party is dealing with it. We are dealing with personal data. When the public services card came into operation the Data Protection Commission stated at the time that it had concerns with it. What happens if we get to a point whereby this framework progresses, and it is suggested that it is breaching GDPR rules?