Contract on new ID cards shortly

A contract for the production of biometric identity cards is expected to be signed with De La Rue in the coming weeks with the first cards expected to be issued in August or September next year, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt told Parliament...

A contract for the production of biometric identity cards is expected to be signed with De La Rue in the coming weeks with the first cards expected to be issued in August or September next year, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt told Parliament yesterday.

Answering a series of opposition questions, Dr Gatt said the signing of the agreement will follow the production of the necessary software together with the Electoral Commission.

The EU last month approved funding for the renewal of all ID cards.

The new cards are expected to feature greater security and more information on their owners, including fingerprints. The information will be stored on a chip in the card.

In a written reply to the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said that the process of renewal of the cards was expected to take some 12 months.

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