Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Has there been no discussion with Electric Ireland and either the banks that are leaving or the representative body BPFI about a more automated system between them? Electric Ireland is among the top 20, if not the top ten, direct debit originators. In this day and age the idea that somebody is putting a form into an envelope, sealing the envelope, putting a stamp on it and sending it off and Electric Ireland then has to replicate that journey does not make any sense. They are not even being sent by email with attachments. Is there a rationale for this? Is it stipulated that it must be paper based or where is the block in this?