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DPER

Data Protection Commission launches new investigation over Public Services Card

The Public Services Card was brought in in 2011.

THE DATA PROTECTION Commission (DPC) has launched a new investigation into the Public Services Card (PSC).

The investigation concerns allegations that the database which underpins the whole PSC system is being unlawfully used by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The PSC itself was introduced in 2011 in a bid to decrease welfare fraud in the State. Over three million have been issued to date. 

In August 2019, the Data Protection Commission announced the findings of a landmark report into legality of the card. It found there was no legal basis for the card to be mandatory for anything other than welfare.

The Government is currently challenging those findings in the courts. 

Deputy data protection commissioner, Graham Doyle, confirmed that the DPC is “in receipt of a complaint regarding the alleged processing by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform of the database underpinning the PSC”.

Doyle said this handling of information “likely involves the processing of the Public Service Identity dataset, SAFE Level 2 registration data and possibly other personal data through the Single Customer View (SCV), and MyGovID”.

As a result of this complaint, the commission decided to launched an investigation. 

Doyle said: “The DPC has decided to examine the role of DPER in any processing activities undertaken via the SCV and MyGovID and the extent to which DPER complies with any obligations it may have for this processing under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.”

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16 Comments
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    Mute Saz
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    Aug 24th 2021, 3:31 PM

    You mean we have already been microchipped before the vaccines!?

    113
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    Mute Luan Willis
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    Aug 24th 2021, 9:46 PM

    @Saz: Jeez, I never thought of that. But maybe it’s a good thing that the antivaxers are shown to be irrelevant.

    10
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    Mute Mark Howard
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    Aug 24th 2021, 6:36 PM

    Government agencies going around in circles investigating each other. If I remember correctly 80 / 90% of people were perfectly happy with their PSC card the last time they were asked

    78
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    Mute Mr Bordello
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    Aug 24th 2021, 6:47 PM

    Was this already proven to be illegal in regards to it’s necessity to access public facilities and supports.
    It looks another case of the government waiting on an answer that suits them.
    National I.d cards should not be mandatory considering the information they want on the psc.

    49
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    Mute Mick Dunne
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    Aug 24th 2021, 4:54 PM

    Outrageous

    34
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    Mute Maria
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    Aug 24th 2021, 5:53 PM

    Instead of wasting an investigation on this it would be more in their line to focus on the anti vaxxers using the death of people to promote their cause and spread their filth! It was distressing to her it on the radio today.

    56
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    Mute Michael Reilly
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    Aug 24th 2021, 5:57 PM

    @Maria: One government quango investigating another – waste and abuse of public funds.

    63
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    Mute JK
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    Aug 24th 2021, 7:31 PM

    @Maria: Actually it might be better if all these government people told the truth, instead of using people’s objection to the pfizer virus as a way of making their lies real, the vax is killing people but some fail to see this because the truth is being buried.

    29
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    Mute Dave
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    Aug 24th 2021, 8:19 PM

    @JK: Exactly. Look at what’s happened to the GP in Derry. Instead of addressing any of her concerns, they just suspend her. No investigation or any form of conversation about the issues she’s been dealing with on a daily basis. The same happened to Martin Feeley here being forced to retire. Anyone who voices an opinion contrary to the narrative gets pushed away & silenced. That tells you all you need to know about how this is being “managed” by the authorities. And even though we know how their concerns will be treated, at least some medical professionals in the UK are finally coming forward to raise their concerns. https://www.covid19assembly.org/doctors-open-letter/

    17
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    Mute Captain 'Fully Pfizered' Unsensible
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    Aug 24th 2021, 10:31 PM

    @Dave: cop on, no investigation needed, Batshit!…and covid19assembly ?? Seriously…Get help

    8
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    Mute Dave
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    Aug 24th 2021, 11:25 PM

    @Captain ‘Fully Pfizered’ Unsensible: I think it’s about time ‘unsensibility’ gets listed as possible side effects of the jabs with the amount of nonsense coming out lately. Did you even read the document? And the names of all the medical professionals that signed it? You, like the authorities, just dismiss & silence anyone with different opinions. No questions allowed whatsoever. If that’s the type of society you want to live in, it’s you that needs to get help. Or if not, you should consider moving to Afghanistan or Belarus. You’d fit in much better there.

    12
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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Aug 24th 2021, 11:32 PM

    @JK: —-And there’s a religious lady in Achil that forbids the vaccine as inflicting “the mark of the beast” and she can sell you a picture of a lady with roses that will give 100% protection. All for 288 Euros. Great stuff!!

    17
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    Mute Dave
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    Aug 24th 2021, 11:43 PM

    @Captain ‘Fully Pfizered’ Unsensible: You might also consider changing your name. Seeing as you’ll NEVER be fully pfizered with jabs needed every few months. But with all the data coming out against it, your beloved narrative should crumble before your 3rd dose of insensibility. https://t.co/8D5lilo6Rr?amp=1

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    Mute Captain 'Fully Pfizered' Unsensible
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    Aug 25th 2021, 6:05 AM

    @Dave: thanks David, I’ve seen more than enough of these crackpot sites/documents to know what’s in it..read whatever nonsense you like, just don’t expect intelligent people to get fooled by it.

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    Mute Captain 'Fully Pfizered' Unsensible
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    Aug 25th 2021, 6:08 AM

    @Dave: Fine by me, you go fill yourself with worm tablets if that makes you feel any happier about your life

    5
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    Mute Charlie
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    Aug 25th 2021, 9:44 AM

    Wow the anti vax crowd are really out in force in this comments section.

    10
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