Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with and support Senator Dooley and others on having a debate on the immigration and asylum seeker issue. I would call out some of the people who speak unfounded nonsense and make unfounded comments, not just in this House but also in the Dáil, and some not too far away from Senator Dooley and myself, who are gaslighting difficult and tricky situations and gaslighting situations where we are dealing with fake information and unfounded allegations. It would be useful if we could have that in the near future.

I welcome the proposal by the Minister, Deputy McGrath, to introduce legislation to ensure there is the required number of ATMs in the country to meet a critical mass. Many people still deal in cash. I remind the House that cash is still legal tender and if people wish to deal in cash, they should be allowed to. Many small businesses are still paying staff in cash, and while that might be unbelievable to certain people, it is a fact. State agencies should be obliged to accept payments in cash, for example, when somebody books a driver's test. All State agencies should accept cash, whether it is in regard to car tax, paying fines or any other State service.

It is legal tender and it should happen. I commend the councillors on Clare County Council who passed a motion calling on the driver test centres to continue to accept cash, or to reintroduce the accepting of cash where they do not. We need a reality check. Not everybody has a laser card on their phone and not everybody is comfortable or has confidence when tapping. I admire the Minister, Deputy McGrath, for dealing with the availability of cash but this debate needs to go further. People need to be able to transact in what is the legal tender of the State.