Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Feehily for coming in this afternoon. I would like to flesh out something she said earlier about the holding of data, the holding of bank account information and how it is somehow more appealing to the Revenue Commissioners versus the holding of credit card information and how it is somehow more secure. It is as easy for me to cancel a credit card as it is to cancel a single direct debit authority. It is also as easy for me to pick up the telephone and cancel a cheque as it is for me to cancel a single direct debit authority. I used to work in debt management, so I find it confusing that the Revenue Commissioners take some comfort in having a person's direct authority to deduct from his or her bank account over holding credit or debt card information, because they are the same. In terms of ease, it is actually easier to provide bank account details because there are fewer digits.