ID cards here inevitable in wake of tube blasts
Monday July 11 2005
The new ID cards may electronically contain fingerprints, iris scans, or facial outlines.
Despite reservations within the Cabinet about the effectiveness of ID cards, their introduction here is regarded as inevitable if Britain proceed with its plan for cards.
In the wake of the London bombings, the British government is expected to accelerate the ID card scheme, even though Downing Street admits they could not have stopped the attacks.
Options available to the government here include adapting the social services card or producing a separate ID card using the Department of Social Welfare's information database.
The Department of Social Welfare is already developing a more advanced card that can store information for people to deal with a range of government agencies.
The Government has set up an ID card study group, headed up by the Department of Justice.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday acknowledged that the Irish government would have to respond to British actions in the area because of implications for the common travel area.
The minister said he did not envisage a situation where it would be a criminal offence not to have the ID card available for police inspection. "I think that would unalterably change the relationship between the police and the population," he said.
- Fionnan SheahanPolitical Correspondent
