Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The cost of this measure to business was raised by one of the Deputies opposite. I am acutely aware of this issue. The Minister for Finance is considering the introduction of a national payment implementation plan. These issues need to be dealt with. We have done a great deal of work to encourage and facilitate the electronic transfer of funds. Further work needs to be done by banking and lending institutions to facilitate the transfer of moneys from one institution to another. All of these matters will have to be considered in the context of the national pay-out implementation plan. We are trying to encourage the use of cards. As a consequence, there has been a reduction in the stamp duty charges imposed in respect of ATM cards and other debit cards. A balance needs to be struck.

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