AI can already create near-perfect replicas of passports, utility bills and other identity documents — good enough to bypass many existing checks.

In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Dr Hitesh Tewari, Professor at Trinity College Dublin and researcher at the ADAPT Centre, about what this means for public services that rely on digital identity, from welfare and healthcare to licensing and payments.

They explore:

• Why traditional KYC approaches are no longer sufficient
• How fraud becomes dangerous when it becomes scalable
• How zero-knowledge proof can allow verification without over-sharing data
• How blockchain can support trust, not speculation
• Lessons from real-world projects in energy, voting and healthcare data

A practical, risk-focused conversation for those responsible for digital public services.

• 01:25 – AI-generated identity documents and KYC risk
• 06:30 – Why scalable fraud changes everything
• 10:45 – What blockchain is (and is not) for government
• 13:50 – Zero-knowledge proof explained simply
• 19:40 – Tackling greenwashing with better energy attribution
• 22:15 – Healthcare data, silos and trust
• 25:50 – What’s coming next: opportunities and risks

Digital identity, AI fraud, KYC, public sector technology, digital government, blockchain, zero-knowledge proof, cybersecurity, trust in government, ADAPT Centre, Trinity College Dublin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital services only work if everyone can use them.

In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Donal Fitzpatrick and Shivaali Scully from the National Disability Authority about accessibility, universal design and the fast-emerging role of AI in public services.

They explore if AI can remove barriers for people with disabilities, where serious risks around bias and privacy remain, and why involving users early in design is the single most important factor in getting digital services right.

The conversation ranges from real-world examples of AI supporting accessibility, to the impact of the European Accessibility Act, and why Ireland is emerging as a global leader in universal design.

This is a must-listen for anyone designing, commissioning or delivering digital services in the public or private sector.

• 00:00 – Why accessibility is central to digital government
• 03:00 – AI and accessibility: opportunity versus risk
• 06:30 – Why user voices must shape design from day one
• 09:30 – Privacy, bias and the limits of AI
• 17:00 – European Accessibility Act explained
• 23:00 – Ireland’s leadership in universal design
• 34:00 – The Universal Design Grand Challenge and future talent

Accessibility, Universal Design, AI in Government, Digital Public Services, Inclusion, European Accessibility Act, Public Sector Innovation, Transform Gov

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a frank conversation about pace, legislation, risk culture, and delivery at scale — and why digital reform will stall unless governments change how decisions are made, not just what they build.

Part 2 of Transform Gov, Dr Tony Shannon, Head of Digital Services at Ireland’s Office of the Government CIO. This interview goes beyond strategy and confronts the real constraints holding back public-sector transformation.

Tony explains why:

• the machinery of government is not yet fit for the digital age
• legislation itself must become “digital-ready”
• life-event based services require cross-government ownership
• Ireland has a unique opportunity to lead between EU regulation and US innovation

This episode will resonate with anyone responsible for delivery, governance, funding, architecture, or reform in the public sector.

Part 2 of 2

Presented by Maeve Kneafsey

Transform Gov – part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards, in partnership with Accenture

• 01:45 – Why 2030 is the end of the digital decade, not the start
• 04:30 – Life events, building blocks and shared ownership
• 07:00 – Digital public infrastructure explained
• 11:25 – Ireland’s position between EU regulation and US innovation
• 17:00 – Why the machinery of government is not yet fit for the digital age
• 18:30 – The case for digital-ready legislation

Key subjects: public sector digital transformation, government CIO, digital government Ireland, life events strategy, digital public infrastructure, govtech, public service reform, digital legislation, OGCIO, Transform Gov podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.