Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are seeing an evolution in the significant move towards digital payments. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated that. However, cash still has an important role to play in our society and economy. Insofar as is practicable, people have a right to use cash. Having said that, I am conscious that not every public body is in a position to accept cash in the provision of every public service. We must examine all of this and that is why I am committing to new legislation, the heads of which will be prepared this year. It will benefit from pre-legislative scrutiny and from the input of Members across this House, who will give feedback about the experiences of their constituents and of businesses in their areas in the frustrations they sometimes have at their inability to access and use cash for goods and services. It is an issue we will talk much more about this year.

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