Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The potential to use the card would enable all sorts of other schemes to be incorporated in it, such as transferring the money into a savings account and a payment account. It can be examined as it is used over the years. The Deputy mentioned those people who might not be familiar with technology, but 70% of new applicants for State contributory pensions and child benefit opted to use the electronic card. Perhaps older people are not as unable to use the technology as we think.

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