Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

Fine Gael will oppose this measure on a number of grounds. It is a doubling of charges, from 15 cent to 30 cent. Does it apply to bank drafts, electronic transfer and cash cards, devices that will soon be introduced to Ireland allowing people to put money on a card? It is a stealth tax and will affect the elderly if it applies only to cheques. Most people use electronic transfer but the elderly have continued to use cheques. The budget provides some increase to the elderly but it is a low rate of increase. An increase of 6% does not deal with a level of inflation of 15% across a range of areas.

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