All 195 countries · Northern Europe
Ireland
Ireland has no compulsory ID card; MyGovID and the Public Services Card are used for public services. A voluntary Government Digital Wallet entered a 10,000-person pilot in July 2026, and civil liberties groups challenge its legal basis. Ireland is in the euro area and made a declaration on the IHR amendments in 2025.
Digital ID · Goal 16.9
Digital ID in Ireland
- Program
- MyGovID; Public Services Card; Government Digital Wallet
- Status
- Available, partial uptake
- National ID card
- ID card voluntary
- Biometrics
- Yes
- Law
- EU Regulation 2024/1183 (no specific Irish wallet statute found)
The consultation closed in July 2026 and a pilot for 10,000 people followed. The Irish Times reports use is voluntary and older ID remains valid. ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland say a verified MyGovID needs a Public Services Card, the Data Protection Commission found that card's facial database enrolment unlawful, and the Department of Social Protection is appealing in the High Court.
Digital money · Goal 8.10
Central bank digital currency
- Status
- In development
- Name
- Digital euro
Euro-area member. The ECB says it is preparing a possible first issuance during 2029, with a pilot planned for 2027, and assumes EU law is adopted in 2026. The European Parliament voted on 9 July 2026 to open talks with the Council; no final law is confirmed.
On the record
What has happened, newest first
- 2026-07-17Pushback
ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland said the wallet rests on shaky legal grounds because of its MyGovID and Public Services Card link. Irish Times ↗
- 2026-07-09Rolling it out
The European Parliament voted 416 to 169 to open talks with the Council on the digital euro law. Sofia Globe — European Parliament votes to open negotiations on the digital euro ↗
- 2026-07-02Rolling it out
Ireland's digital wallet consultation closed and a pilot phase began. Biometric Update ↗
- 2025-07Courts & law
Ireland sent WHO a declaration under IHR Article 59(3) on the 2024 amendments rather than a rejection. WHO — Circular Letter C.L.26.2025, rejections of the 2024 IHR amendments (mirror copy) ↗
UN and WHO
How Ireland has voted
- WHO
- Accepted the 2024 rule changes
- Pandemic Agreement (May 2025)
- No recorded objection
- Migration compact (Dec 2018)
- Voted yes
- Paris climate deal
- Party
- SDG Index 2026
- 80.0 · rank 25 of 169
- Progress reports to the UN (VNRs)
- 2
Sovereignty score
How the -3 adds up
- -1Building a CBDC (development stage) source ↗
- -1Must offer an EU digital ID wallet by Dec 2026 source ↗
- -1Prices carbon nationally (tax or emissions trading) source ↗
Points come only from public, sourced actions we track, scored the same way for every country. It isn't a grade of a whole government. How scoring works →
People pushing back
Groups and cases in Ireland
- ICCL and Digital Rights IrelandWrote to the Department raising six concerns about the wallet, including no clear legal basis and reliance on MyGovID. source ↗
Nobody runs this from the top
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