RSF Reject Orwellian Card Plans for Welfare

national | miscellaneous | press release Wednesday October 21, 2009 17:18 by Richard Walsh - Republican Sinn Féin tiocfaidh at btinternet dot com c/- Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223, Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland +44-7835 620 592 / +353-87 261 8603

A proposal to collect biometric data of persons claiming social welfare benefits in the 26-Counties in an effort to create a State identity card has been criticised by Republican Sinn Féin.

A proposal to collect biometric data of persons claiming social welfare benefits in the 26-Counties in an effort to create a State identity card has been criticised by Republican Sinn Féin. This was included as one of the recommendations in the first report from the Leinster House “Joint Committee on Social & Family Affairs”.

The Committee further discuss whether a biometric card for social welfare recipients could develop into a State identity card. It will contain biometric data including the holder's fingerprints. They have called for the development of such a card to be “fast-tracked as a priority measure”.

It is clear that the proposed card is not really about preventing welfare “fraud” but is actually an attempt to bring an identity card in through the back door in an increasingly Orwellian society. Such a card would inevitably be used to monitor every activity – public and private – of all individuals within the 26-County State and beyond.

CRÍOCH / ENDS