Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have confidence in the Attorney General's advice on this issue. The Government is at one on this. We had a long conversation on it and had the legal position outlined to us by the Attorney General. In his view, and that of the Government, the legislation introduced by Fianna Fáil is good and allows for the public services card to be used across multiple agencies and Departments. The purpose of the card is to make it easier for citizens to access public services, including in respect of first-time applications for a passport. To address the confusion in the public mind arising from commentary in relation to the public services card, we have introduced a facility to enable persons who do not have a public services card to obtain a passport. We will not preclude people from getting a passport if they do not have a public services card but we have streamlined a process using the public services card which is the best way to get a passport quickly and the most reliable way in terms of the security and identity requirements. If there are exceptional circumstances, we will accommodate them. There is no great mystery about this. It does not in any way undermine the Government's position on this issue, which is rock solid and, if legally tested, will be strongly defended.

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