Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome. I welcome the Bill. It makes perfect sense. The move to technology is not going to be reversed, but it is important that people have the right to use and be able to access cash in a location as close as possible to their home. During Storm Éowyn when the systems shut down and shops did not have access to tills or credit and debit facilities, cash was the only form of tender that was accepted. It was absolutely vital in those cases that people had access to cash to buy a loaf of bread or a bit of milk and meet their basic needs. The premise of the Bill is important. I very much welcome section 5 on access to cash criteria.

I will play devil's advocate, however, and others have expressed a view on people having the right to pay with cash. I fully agree with that. However, there are people who may wish to pay by debit card and do not have cash on them at that juncture, whether that is the purchase of a takeaway, haircut or whatever else. There are a number of cash-only businesses. As I said, in terms of playing devil's advocate, I wonder whether the right to be able to pay with a debit or credit card is a similar right for consumers.In the past, when people had to collect their pension in cash or whatever else, there was a security risk and a risk to people's safety. Is that something the Minister of State has concerns about when he refers to access to cash and access via a debit or credit card to pay for goods and services?