Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 36, line 3, after “section 25(1)(b)” to insert “, or who carries on the business of a cheque cashing office,”.

These amendments merely transpose an aspect of the fourth directive, requiring member states to ensure that cheque cashing offices are licensed and registered. The Chair will be aware from his former career that there are not too many cheque cashing offices in the country. The role and function of the cheque cashing office did not extend the cashing of a cheque or the exchanging of the cheque for money, in times when people were paid by cheque one day a week and did not have a bank account or access to a bank but used the services of a cheque cashing office. My understanding is that there are no more than six to eight remaining in the country, one not too far from here. Any cheque cashing office that engages in business will be required to register the name, the address of the registered office and the location of the registered office.