Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill but also encourage the Minister of State to accept the amendments to it. Being from County Mayo and rural Ireland, and Storm Éowyn was mentioned by Deputy Doherty, I see at first hand the importance of a Bill such this and the Bill having a legal standing for businesses' acceptance of cash. I commend the post offices on the Trojan work they did when they did not have services from Eir and others and still did their very best to provide cash for people.

This is also vitally important for elderly people living in rural Ireland who want to deal with their own cash affairs and in order that they do not have to hand their card, and trust their numbers and access to the whole of their bank balance, to somebody. It is vital they have cash.

Has any audit been done on the impact of changes that banks have forced as regards behaviour in using cash? Has any analysis been done of the impact that has on voluntary and charitable organisations? This Bill is vitally important, especially to rural Ireland.

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