Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome also this legislation, which essentially transposes into Irish law the EU directive of 2014 on the issue of counterfeiting and counterfeit euro notes and kinds. Why has it has taken more than seven years for something as important as this to be implemented? I agree that the use of cash has decreased dramatically, particularly in the last year, in our country. Nonetheless, the use of cash will continue for many years into the future. As such, we must ensure that we have the necessary armoury to deal with counterfeiting because it is a problem across Europe. Other European countries have transposed the directive into law. We are coming to the table late. We need to have a discussion in broad terms as to why it has taken nearly a decade to implement what is law in Europe and what was decided in Europe seven or eight years ago.

I also agree with my colleagues in respect of other measures in terms of cybersecurity. Chip and PIN cards, contactless payments and credit cards are used everywhere now, from taxis to restaurants to the purchase of property. I absolutely agree that we need to bring forward very robust legislation to deal with crime in this area. As consumers use of Internet banking, laser cards, other forms of technology and apps such as Revolut and PayPal increases, criminals will follow. They will find ways of infiltrating it and scamming people. Therefore, we need to ensure that we have the armoury, in terms of the legislation, that is necessary to deal with it. We must ensure that we equip An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and the other arms of the State with the necessary legislation so that they are in a position to deal swiftly with this type of crime when inevitably increases. It is already a problem, but it will increase.

This legislation, albeit late, is welcome. I sincerely hope that it passes all Stages in the House without division.