Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McNamara and the Independent Group for proposing this motion on the NDLS. It is a really important service. Various issues with the issuing and renewing of permits and driving licences have had a severe impact on the lives of workers and their families over the past two years. We heard from numerous front-line workers about the difficulties they faced in renewing their driving licences and the impact on their work. It is disappointing that the NDLS no longer offers a walk-in service and that it refuses to accept cash payments. On the PSC, it sounds in theory like people will not need one but in practice they do need it. This is in spite of a previous investigation by the Data Protection Commission which found there is no lawful basis for this requirement. The whole process is a prime example of the downgrading of public services due to Government services being privatised.

An Post operates a network of some 950 post offices around the State. It is a devastating indictment of the Government's view of An Post that it will not engage with or involve the postal service in this process. The awarding of this contract to the Swiss company, SGS, reflects a missed opportunity to use the post office network and bring the NDLS into every community, ensuring ease of access to all.

Removing the walk-in and cash services shows the level of disconnect between the Government and ordinary people. There are many people who need that bit of extra assistance, including the elderly and those from minority backgrounds. Many of those people might not have a PSC. They may have literacy barriers. Sinn Féin has previously called for the PSC to be scrapped following the report from the UN on the disproportionate impact it has on marginalised communities. I welcome and support the motion because it highlights the serious issues currently with the NDLS.

See this speech in context