Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is something we need to keep under constant review because, as Mr. Larkin stated, technology is there. No one had smartphones and then everyone had them. No one was using tap-and-go to buy a bar of chocolate or some ice-cream and many are using it now. Everything we do is driven by technology and is influenced by it. When it goes down, we know instantaneously how much of a problem it is, not only for our personal convenience but for all the businesses that rely on it. We saw that when the cash payment system went down in the Aviva Stadium, everyone had to be given free food and drink because it was a cashless venue and there was no other way to deal with it. It is clearly a threat in every way, including to businesses, to consumers, to individuals and ultimately to people's mental health because there is nothing worse than not being able to access and use everything and to conduct our lives the way we are used to.

I thank all the witnesses.