Public Services Card is not a problem. Not having one might just be

THERE is yet more extraordinary waffle being written about the Public Services Card.

Today, I see that “the state is now in breach of its own laws.”

Really?

Should that not read “the state, in the opinion of one bureaucrat, is now in breach of its own laws.”

Because that’s what’s going on.

The Data Protection Commissioner, who doesn’t seem to be able to protect anyone from the Russians, Mark Zuckerberg and co or any hacker who has a half an hour to spend messing with some major retailer’s website, thinks the state is breaking the law.

The state disagrees and is going to court.

Cue outrage.

The DPC is an independent regulator blah blah…

Well, so is the Garda Commissioner. And I don’t remember journalists queuing up to defend any or even one of those who got themselves into a bit of bother. 

I am chronically ill and meet doctors very often – much more often than those who think there’s a ten year wait for everything would have you believe. And no I don’t see them privately.

Everyone I meet, every single doctor to whom I have spoken about the PCS thinks that, not only is it a great idea but that it should carry MORE information, not less.

They believe it actually SHOULD carry “sensitive information.” Right now, some “liberals” are complaining that “sensitive information” on the PSC will be available to, I don’t know,  someone.

But they can’t tell me what this “sensitive information” is.

Because there isn’t any.

At least, none the government agencies don’t already have and Facebook and Twitter etc don’t have in bucketloads.

Imagine you’re ill. Imagine that, maybe you’re on a blood thinner. Imagine you collapse or are knocked down or trip on an escalator.

Wouldn’t it be helpful if a paramedic could lean into your pocket, take our your wallet and your PSC card and find information on it that tells them your medical condition and your medication? “Sensitive information.”

What next for these do-gooders? “Oh, you can’t put points on his driving licence because that’s ‘sensitive information’ and it’s nobody else’s business.”

I have said before that only nine countries in the world don’t have an identity card. Most are voluntary – but most are also required to legally access state services.

Personally, I don’t see the problem.

But then, I’m not always looking for one.