"Unfortunate" that people think we're breaking the law - PSC chief

“I’m advised that we are operating within the law, I believe we are operating within the law.”

The chief civil servant in charge of the controversial Public Services Card project has said that his department would not be challenging findings of illegality against the card unless it was “absolutely sure that a challenge was not only appropriate but necessary”.

Appearing before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee - ostensibly to discuss his department’s most recently published accounts - secretary-general of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection John McKeon wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not that challenge would serve to “undermine” the office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which operates as an independent State regulator.