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22nd May 2017
09:30am BST
If you have plans to apply for a passport or driving license any time soon then you need to know that that rules they are a-changing.
From autumn and early next year respectively, all Irish citizens applying for a passport or a driving licence will have to have a State public services card (PSC).
The identity card, which has already been issued to 2.3 million citizens in Ireland since it was first introduced to social welfare recipients in 2011, is now required for anyone wishing to drive or travel - making it fairly essential to have.
The front of the card holds a person’s name, photograph and signature, along with the card expiry date. The back of the card holds the person’s PPS number and a card number.
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe told The Irish Times the reason for needing the card for passport applications was “very simple”.
“Given the increase in acts of terrorism over the last several years, every democratic country should be obliged to deploy the most robust means of authenticated travel across borders that it has available.”
Some campaigners have spoken out about their concerns that the introduction of the card appeared to be a stealthy way of enforcing a national ID card.
From early next month, anyone taking the Driver Theory Test will be required to have a PSC.
More info can be found here on how to apply for one and how your personal data will be used.
