Swipe cards 'may breach privacy laws', Cabinet warned
13/07/2005 - 08:07:46The Cabinet has reportedly been warned that plans to introduce a national swipe card for use when dealing with state bodies could breach privacy laws.
Reports this morning said the Government was planning to introduce cards containing the personal information of all Irish citizens.
The move is designed to prevent people from having to repeatedly supply information - such as personal numbers and social welfare details - to different state bodies.
However, under the Data Protection Act, electronically-stored information cannot be shared between different agencies.
This morning's reports said the Government had so far been unable to find a way to ensure that state bodies could only access the information they need from the planned new swipe cards.
