24 Comments
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Mike Keegan's avatar

What was the reason for the change from 'Social Welfare' to 'Social Protection' ..... did any-body question this at the time? !! Mike. Keegan.

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

I hadn't even considered this. Argh!

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J. P. Bruce's avatar

This is good news. I wonder what the government will do next.

Without question the PSC is an identity card. In the USA they are still debating the idea. In the UK it was thrown out by the courts apparently. But little old Ireland managed to squeeze it in many moons ago. And now millions of Irish people have one.

In my own case not having a PSC makes little difference. But I'd hate to be dependent on the state financially for a pension or social welfare payments.

My advice? Go off-grid, if you can.

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

This is good advice! I had personal experience of this not so long ago, so I am interested to hear others' experience before I VENT

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sampa's avatar

It sounds a bit as if they are moving more towards legalising it now, rather than to stop doing it.

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

Yes exactly

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

Oh dear is right!!

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Tom's avatar

WTF? As Louise says, 1 state body issuing a fine to another . . . In other words, you fine me, or I fine you . . . Someone has to shout STOP! . . .

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Mike Keegan's avatar

Well they are experts in the use of words ! .....On that theme, I have organised for John Waters to have one of his 'book signing/talks in our local town..... 25th June, ...7pm....McNamaras pub, Main Street, Scariff, Co. Clare .... Pass this on ! Mike .

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

Will do

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Eleanor's avatar

I love your reporting Louise BUT I have a gripe: I have noticed more and more people using AI in their articles, thus contributing to its legitimacy. It's time each person took responsibility for his/her actions - use cash, stop using Uber, stop using Airbnb; if a vaccine passport (or similar) is introduced again, boycott it - if the Moscovites could get the Covid one lifted by their refusal to use it, why couldn't we. If necessary, civil disobedience, e.g., no masks, no social distancing, etc. As a vulnerable (how I hate that word!) 75 year-old, I refused to cocoon and walked about/shopped maskless (and didn't get ill)... and yes, it was a pain being stopped by the Gardai and insulted in supermarkets.

We are taking part in our own destruction - Edward R Murrow (journalist during WW11): "No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.” Each and every one of us is either part of the problem or part of the solution - Jung: "The change must begin with one individual; it might be any one of us.” CW 18 (1961).

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

This is a legitimate complaint and thanks for your honesty! Reminds me of the man in Medjugorje who said 'war starts in the heart'.

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Eleanor's avatar

I appreciate your reply, Louise... I know you are on the side of the righteous...

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Miriam Cotton's avatar

As a full time carer my understanding was that my entitlements could not be granted/processed unless I got the card. This was back in 2015, I think. I didn't protest or query it, I just got the card for myself and subsequently for my son last year. I believe carers were among the first cohorts to be compelled to get a card.

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

That's interesting that it was carers? But never mandatory for you surely? I had experience of it lately on SW. Now firmly in the AGAINST camp

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Sarah Posthuma's avatar

The whole idea of imposing a fine on a government body that is funded by taxpayers money makes no sense anyway ..or is there something I'm missing 🤔

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

The joke is on us. Seems an elaborate farce? The settlement decision to allow it for vulnerable social welfare recipients is v interesting

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Sarah Posthuma's avatar

Sure they've made social welfare recipients feel like criminals for a long time so yes ..just another example of the type of psychological warfare we are up against.

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Sarah Posthuma's avatar

Yes esp since government supports are being made more and more difficult to avoid in general

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Philip Quigley's avatar

It’s simply another form of control. Was it justified- no. Did it cost a lot. More money wasted for nothing but control!

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Patricia McGirr Stewart's avatar

What would be a valid reason?

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Charles Foster Kane's avatar

Some people think that they're soooo important that their personal details need to be kept private. Where do they get these notions of grandeur from? Honestly I don't know whether to laugh or throw up.

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Louise Roseingrave's avatar

The cheek!

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