Billion euro compo bill on the cards for the state
3 million may sue over privacy law
THREE million people may be able to sue the State as the controversial PSC identity cards allegedly breach new European privacy laws.
Legal actions could start within weeks and it has been claimed the authorities might have to pay out billions of euro.
The cost of the cards scheme has topped €60million and been criticised as an invasion of individuals’ privacy.
Solicitor Simon Mcgarr yesterday told an Oireachtas Committee the PSCS fall foul of the EU’S General Data Protection Regulation.
He added: “The GDPR is ticking down to coming into force in May, what that allows for is that States will be liable for non-financial loss breaches of data protection rights.
“If it is the case that it [the PSC scheme] is not compliant – and we’re told it contains approximately three million people’s details – that would indicate each one of those three million people have a claim on the State.
REMEDY
“And the remedy has not been set out in the terms of the GDPR, it’s a remedy in terms of financial compensation, that’s available through the courts.
“Any number, the court might consider appropriate for that type of breach multiplied by three million is a very large number.”
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has called for at least the suspension of the PSC project as it has serious concerns that it exceeds its remit and is not necessary.
It said: “The Government has failed to respond to the clear privacy concerns regarding the PSC and has instead invested further funds for promoting a project already over budget.”
A Department of Social Protection statement said it does not accept Mr Mcgarr’s claims.
It added: “The Department is satisfied that there is a comprehensive legal basis in place for registering people’s identity and for the sharing of that identity data with specified public bodies.”