Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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92. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department to the public; when the term of the agreement will end; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15743/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I understand that the merchant agreements the Deputy is referring to, relate to "Acquiring Bank Services". These are services offered by a financial institution that facilitate an entity to accept debit and credit card payments from individuals or other entities.

In this respect my Department does not receive credit/debit card payments and does not therefore avail of "Acquiring Bank Services". 

Agencies under the aegis of my Department, that avail of "Acquiring Bank Services" are; the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Institute of Public Administration (IPA); the information I have from these Agencies in relation to "Acquiring Bank Services" is summarised as follows: