Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I pass on my sympathies to the family of Senator Aisling Dolan on the passing of her dad. May he rest in peace.

I rise today to highlight the use of cash. A report by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland recently highlighted that there has been an increase of 18% in contactless payments. There are over 3 million card payments a day. The report does not mention the use of cash. I have been contacted by many older people who still like to use cash. They cannot get used to using cards. Recently, on two separate occasions, I went to where there used to be seven different ATMs all around Limerick. They are gone. They are actually closed down. There is EU regulation and a rule coming through the European Parliament. It is to be passed by the end of June. It will make sure that cash will be kept as part of our legal tender. This rule could mean that pharmacies and small businesses would have to accept cash. That is very positive because so many older people are used to using cash but this rule would mean that we here in Ireland would have to adapt to it. As part of the regulation, ATMs would be protected and kept. However, the banks are getting rid of their ATMs before this rule is implemented, which is affecting rural Ireland especially. In many cities we still have the odd ATM but in many rural villages and towns and on the peripheries of the cities ATMs are disappearing. It is something that needs to be raised with the Minister for Finance, and I would like the Deputy Leader's support in that regard.