Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has imposed a 50 cent charge on banks to write cheques for customers who are old age pensioners; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that banks are stating that this is a levy imposed by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41160/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A Stamp Duty on "bills of exchange", which include cheques, has existed for many years. The current rate of Stamp Duty on cheques and drafts is 50 cent, which applies to all bank customers, including pensioners, who use the products. Outside of the use by customers of these products – that is, writing cheques on their own accounts – I am not clear about the Deputy's statement that banks are charging 50 cent to write cheques for customers in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. If a customer wishes to query a particular bank charge, s/he should pursue the matter with her/his financial institution in the first instance.