Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In my view it is a generational thing and it takes a while to develop and deliver a cashless society. I know quite a number of people, some related to me, who work with cash and cheque book and would be horrified at the idea of buying a bullock with a piece of plastic. It does not work out that way. I am sure the Deputy knows such people also. Younger people are more adaptable and will move on. I do not think the effective date, as long as it is pretty quick, matters that much. What matters is that we are putting the new facilities in place to encourage people to avail of these systems of payment which are electronically transacted.