Clare Byrne

Now, the government is planning to make public services cards an acceptable form of age verification or identity that can be used in places like banks or in credit unions.

This is despite the fact that some civil rights groups have raised concerns around it.

And we're going to hear about those concerns in a moment.

I'm joined in the studio by Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD.

TJ McIntyre is Associate Professor at the School of Law in UCD.

He's also a Solicitor and Chair of Digital Rights Ireland.

And DJ, I want to come to you today

and your concerns first.

What are you worried about in this context?

Can I just go back a step?

Because you say that the attempt here is to bring in a national ID card without it having a legal basis.

Do you have an issue with a national ID card in principle?

Because some people might listen to this and think, well, if my public services card was accepted by a bank or by a credit union, that would be a handy thing.

I'd have it there in my wallet, you know, in that format and I could hand it over and open my account and I'd welcome that.

OK, Malcolm Byrne, you've listened to TJ's concerns there about mission creep, about, you know, heading down the road of a national ID card, but just not doing it properly.

The concern is that the government will get it wrong again, as they did in the past, and were subject to a very large fine from the Data Protection Commission.

Are you in favour of us having a national ID card?

Okay, so this will be a matter of choice for individuals.

TJ, what is the issue with that?

That sounds like a good idea, doesn't it Malcolm?