Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The next session starts at 5 p.m. I have a couple of comments to make based on comments and complaints that I have received from constituents. The first is the degree to which machines are out of order when a member of the public wishes to access his or her own cash. They will always point out that they want to get their own cash. It is not the bank's cash or the operator's cash. It is the cash within the ownership of the individual or authorised cash.

They also refer to the ones that are out of order where the sign on the screen says, "We are very sorry but this machine is out of order." They are not very sorry at all. They do not care. The reality is the customer is the customer. The bank and the ATM machine in place of the bank are providing the service to the customer and the customer expects that service. Reference has been made by all the speakers to urban and rural areas. In urban areas, it may be better, although I am not sure. I have examined the spread, etc., as to whether this will be effective. I worry about, for instance, in rural areas, where somebody travels from one to two, three or four machines to find one that is working at certain times and the degree of frustration that causes to the customer. I would point out the necessity to be absolutely certain that the customer is entitled to be served and to be recognised as a customer, not as a passerby who wants to put graffiti on the wall or something like that.

The other issue is the criteria. I welcome the criteria that have been referred to by various speakers. On the criteria that was used in removing the machine from Leinster House, the House of Parliament, most other parliaments throughout the world, as far as I am aware, have access to cash, and that is equally important here. The criteria used to remove it was that it was not making a profit and the footfall was poor. As if to emphasise cynicism, that decision was taken during the lockdown. What other way would the footfall be during that period? It hints at a disregard for the customer. The banks took their machine away from here and they disadvantaged many staff and Members who have to rely on that. Many staff who leave home very early in the morning in a rush, and Members likewise, found this a safe place. Reference has been made to the fact that it was enclosed, etc. It was not so or too badly enclosed. It was open well into the afternoon, evening and night. It was regularly open until 12 o'clock at night. Maybe not everybody realises that. These are the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is the national Parliament. It is absolutely necessary for the lending institutions to show that they have respect for the people who represent the people as well as the people. It is something that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. I believe it will be addressed because otherwise we will have to continue to raise it.