Vol. 378 No. 6
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider the introduction of a national identity card for all citizens which would carry a tax-welfare number as this card would help to curtail abuse and fraud in welfare and taxation and it would also eliminate the need for a passport to travel to other EC countries.
157.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has considered easing the lot of taxpayers and social welfare recipients by the introduction of unique reference numbers for their use in all transactions with the Revenue Commissioners and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
160.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has any intention of facilitating unemployment assistance recipients in satisfying the identification requirement, by providing them with laminated ID cards incorporating a photograph; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 157 and 160 together.
Unlike a number of other countries there is no country-wide national identification system here and consideration of such a system would obviously raise broader issues which would go beyond my immediate responsibilities as Minister for Social Welfare.
The Revenue Social Insurance number, known as the RSI number, is allocated by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and is used by both my Department and that office. It is becoming a commonly used identification number across a wide range of State services. However, this numbering system covers employed workers only, leaving a large number of people outside the system.
The extension of social insurance coverage to the self-employed this year will considerably broaden the scope of the RSI numbering system. However, much work would need to be done before the RSI number system could be used with confidence as a national identification number. My Department are having on-going discussions with the Revenue Commissioners with a view to developing a more secure numbering system.
With regard to identification in the case of recipients of unemployment payments, I am examining ways of improving the signing card already in use. I am making arrangements to introduce on a pilot basis a new style laminated card which would be more secure and durable. The pilot exercise will be evaluated and further developments will depend on the result of the evaluation.
