Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will share the time as we go along. I appreciate that.

I thank the Minister for his opening statement. Access to cash and the right of people to use cash is vital. That is the nub of this. People have a right to use cash as well as to access it. Since Covid and even before that, people have spoken of restrictions on the use of cash. People used cards more and more during that time for obvious reasons. There was a story going around that the Government and the authorities were trying to move people away from using cash, that an element of greater control was being placed on the public and that this was the mechanism by means of which this was happening. It is welcome that we have this legislation to deal with access to cash and to have cash infrastructure in place across the length and breadth of the State.

We have had major problems in many areas, particularly rural areas, where ATMs and banks have closed down. We see the withdrawal of many banking services. That has greatly annoyed and frustrated the public and has fed into people's belief that the Government is somehow or other trying to withdraw access to cash from them and not allow them to use it in the same manner that they did in the past.

The measures set out by the Minister clearly indicate that there will be a responsibility on the banks and financial institutions to ensure people have access to cash and a right to cash. Another side of this we need to think of is the issue of where they use cash, whether in shops, restaurants or wherever. It is legal tender and people should have the opportunity to use it. Many people, particularly older individuals, still want their cash in their wallets and want to be able to use it. They feel they know what money they have when they have that.

We also need to consider that in recent times, because so many of our financial transactions happen online, there is the danger of fraud and people being hoodwinked and having money taken out of their accounts. We all get texts, emails or whatever from sometimes legitimate and sometimes illegitimate sources seeking passwords, etc. People are sometimes fraudulently done out of their money. If they have cash, that does not happen as easily.

We also have to recognise that cash has its dangers. We would not want to encourage people to hoard cash or have a lot of it on their premises, for example, under the mattress, as happened in the past. That is a difficulty but the right to have access to and use cash is vital. This legislation moves in that direction. I am sure the committee has compiled a report on it and put forward proposals. We hope that more of those proposals will be taken on board as the legislation moves through the Houses.

People have the right to be free to use mode of transaction they feel is appropriate for them and their lifestyle. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that every effort is made in order to allow them to do that. This legislation moves us in that direction. It may not go far enough. Deputy Doherty was involved in the committee and would be more au faitwith the various issues in that regard. I will now pass over to him.

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