Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin opposes this resolution because people who use cheque books are, in most cases, those with low academic attainment and low income. While I accept that the intent of the motion is to move business and civil society to e-transactions, we will get to that point anyway. The people I described see credit and bank cards as high level, technological devices well beyond them. To penalise them in this way is not fair or reasonable. I am satisfied we will get to where this resolution seeks to bring us in any case. We can spare more time for those lagging behind. This resolution is included at the behest of the banks. I do not care who it is at the behest of, but we should afford these people more time to work their way through the system and we will all live happily ever after. It is grossly unnecessary.

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