Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also congratulate the chair of the autism committee, Senator Carrigy. In our various groups, we all tried to push our colleagues to ensure that they did the training and we were pushed by the Senator. It was well worth the effort.

I raise the issue of buy now, pay later services. Many of us because of our age - I am middle aged - use mainstream banks. Revolut might be as far as I go in terms of being creative in my banking but younger people are able to access many online apps. They have these buy now, pay later services and it is easier to rack up debt. It is a similar idea as a credit card but it is even easier than applying for a credit card. We need to send the message out that by entering into a buy now, pay later credit agreement, someone is actually taking out a loan that has to be repaid. Getting loans from various institutions, or even just one, can really affect a person’s credit rating for the future. People should really be aware. There is so much fast fashion and such pressure on people to have all the latest items but they have to know that they have to pay these loans back and that they are loans.

I also want to raise scam text messages. Many people are getting them. Banks tell us that every day a few people come in telling them about their daughter or son who lost their phone. The scammers are at pains to enter into conversations with people and it is quite a sophisticated scam. I want people to be aware that they should report it because many people feel shame when they are scammed and have transferred money and there is a sort of scam shame, but scams should be reported. We should speak more widely about it because people, especially older people, are really vulnerable to this. There should be more regulation and perhaps a debate in the House on how we can create awareness about these because the elderly are very vulnerable.