In a very quiet way, the public services card was removed yesterday as a requirement by the Passport Office. Clearly, not all Departments and Government offices share the same confidence as the Taoiseach and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, that the continued use of the public services card beyond the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is legal.

We need clarity on this issue, particularly as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is still requiring applicants for the new national childcare scheme to have a card. We understand that the Department is examining alternatives, but as it is stated on its website that a hard copy of the public services card application form will not be available until January, which is a number of months after the scheme goes live, parents need clarity on whether they can submit an application under the new national childcare scheme if they do not have a public services card.

It is clear the Tánaiste does not have faith in the legality of the continued use of the public services card given its removal as a requirement in respect of a passport application. Will other Departments also withdraw the requirement for a public services card in respect of citizens' access to services?

I have confidence in the Attorney General's advice on this issue. The Government is at one on this. We had a long conversation on it and had the legal position outlined to us by the Attorney General. In his view, and that of the Government, the legislation introduced by Fianna Fáil is good and allows for the public services card to be used across multiple agencies and Departments. The purpose of the card is to make it easier for citizens to access public services, including in respect of first-time applications for a passport. To address the confusion in the public mind arising from commentary in relation to the public services card, we have introduced a facility to enable persons who do not have a public services card to obtain a passport. We will not preclude people from getting a passport if they do not have a public services card but we have streamlined a process using the public services card which is the best way to get a passport quickly and the most reliable way in terms of the security and identity requirements. If there are exceptional circumstances, we will accommodate them. There is no great mystery about this. It does not in any way undermine the Government's position on this issue, which is rock solid and, if legally tested, will be strongly defended.