Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At this time of year, many people are purchasing gift cards for Christmas. I have always been a big supporter of shop local, stay local, support local. We have a local voucher scheme in County Carlow. I am very concerned that the EU is proposing that any voucher like this under €150 will have to be regulated for identification. This proposal will discourage people from buying them and small shop owners will have much more paperwork. We will be cutting off a vital lifeline in our local economy.

The European Parliament was scheduled to vote on this but it was pushed back. Will we be supporting amendment No. 479 that calls for the reintroduction of the €150 exemption for low risk e-money? I absolutely call for this. I ask everyone to shop local and support local. I will get in first and wish everyone a really happy Christmas, including the Ceann Comhairle, the Ministers and all the Deputies. Of course, in my area of Carlow-Kilkenny, I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

See this speech in context