Statement to Joint Comittee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Dr Elizabeth Farries

Dr Elizabeth Farries

08.05.2026. This week Dr. Elizabeth Farries presented the below statement to tbhe Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, discussing the development of Ireland’s Public Services Card under the Pre-Legislative Scurtiny of the General Scheme of the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026, and the potential use of such a card within a state-driven biometrics identity infrastructure.

Within this resonse, Dr Farries notes the ongoing protest to the use of this card beyond social welfare purposes from civil liberties organisations, community stakeholders and data protection experts, among others, and the varied risks posed in relation to surveillance, policing and profiling as well asdata collection and its use.

Read the full statement below.

Openingstatement.PSC.Farries