John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In a very quiet way, the public services card was removed yesterday as a requirement by the Passport Office. Clearly, not all Departments and Government offices share the same confidence as the Taoiseach and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, that the continued use of the public services card beyond the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is legal.

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We need clarity on this issue, particularly as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is still requiring applicants for the new national childcare scheme to have a card. We understand that the Department is examining alternatives, but as it is stated on its website that a hard copy of the public services card application form will not be available until January, which is a number of months after the scheme goes live, parents need clarity on whether they can submit an application under the new national childcare scheme if they do not have a public services card.

It is clear the Tánaiste does not have faith in the legality of the continued use of the public services card given its removal as a requirement in respect of a passport application. Will other Departments also withdraw the requirement for a public services card in respect of citizens' access to services?

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