The article highlights a tension at the heart of digital government: efficiency can improve access for many citizens, yet online-first systems may deepen disadvantage for people without devices, skills, connectivity or confidence. This concern sits alongside the wider human-rights focus on housing, migration and essential services, suggesting that administrative design has consequences for equality and dignity. Ireland’s experience of supporting displaced Ukrainians also shows how rapidly public systems may need to adapt to changing needs. How should Ireland assess whether digital public-service reforms broaden access, and what safeguards or alternative routes would best ensure that vulnerable groups are not excluded?