Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman, and I thank the Independent Group for tabling the motion. It allows us to ask the Minister to account for what I believe is an underhand and discriminatory reduction in the services of the NDLS. Decisions made in the context of Covid-19 were supposed to be temporary measures, supposedly made in the public interest to protect customers and staff in a variety of State bodies. It is an abuse of the Covid-19 measures for the NDLS to fail to return to the level of service that existed prior to Covid. It is also an underhand way of discriminating against those who find online literacy difficult. Many of us can put our hand in our pocket, whip out a phone and do almost anything we want, but there are a significant number of people who are unable to perform these tasks.

To add insult to injury, in adopting its online-only policy for services, the NDLS is insisting that people use a public services card, as has been mentioned many times today. There are three main problems with this. First, a vast number of people do not have sufficient Internet service to operate any website. Second, a large number of people do not have a public services card. As for the third problem, I will quote directly from an agreement between the Department and the Data Protection Commission in respect of the use of public services cards other than by the Department of Social Protection.

The Agreement acknowledges that other public bodies listed in social welfare legislation (“specified bodies”) may use the PSC as a means of verifying the identity of the people they deal with, provided that they also accept other methods of authenticating identity.

The Agreement also acknowledges and accepts that the Department and other specified bodies can continue to use MyGovID as the sole means of authenticating identity for the purpose of accessing online services, provided that an alternative service channel is made available.

It is very clear that requiring the use of the public services card or a MyGovID account clearly goes against this agreement and goes against the legal judgment made in 2019. Despite this, if I go to the NDLS website to apply online for a licence, the only option outlined involves the use of a public services card. To quote directly from the NDLS website:

Applying online is a simple, straightforward process, no need to book an appointment or attend an NDLS centre. Save time and do it the smart way. Apply Online today.

All you need is your Public Services Card and your verified MyGovID for safe, secure access to your online application.

Already have a verified MyGovID account? Apply Now

If you haven’t got a verified MyGovID account but have a Public Services Card? You’re almost there. You can set up your verified MyGovID account using your public services card at www.mygovid.ie.

Don’t yet have a Public Services Card? You can book a Public Service Card (PSC) appointment by phoning your local Intreo office. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 pandemic online PSC appointments are not available at www.mywelfare.ie.

There is no alternative option mentioned and it seems that Covid is still being used as an excuse for online PSC appointments not being available, which makes very little sense with regard to the conversation we are having today. The whole situation is a mess. It has been badly handled and badly communicated and bad decisions have been made.

Many citizens do not have debit cards. This is just another impediment the Department is responsible for. With this in mind, I hope the Minister of State will outline for us today the answer to the following questions. Who was responsible for making this decision to curtail in-person services? Who was consulted before the decision was made? What assessments were made about the impact of this decision on those with poor digital literacy or poor access to the necessary equipment or Internet services? Why have the NDLS and the Department of Transport broken the agreement with the Data Protection Commission by requiring the use of a public services card?

I concur with all of the speakers and I want to point out that when it comes to the NDLS engaging with the RSA on identifying compatible licences of foreign nationals it is a very slow process. Many people who come here with work permits spend as long as six to nine months trying to get their licence verified so they may undertake the work they are here on a permit to take up. This is something that has to be addressed. It may not be the Department of the Minister of State but it certainly involves both agencies mentioned, namely, the NDLS and the RSA. It is an impediment to how we get on and progress as a country.

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