Time for national conversation about cash - Tóibín

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says that it is now time that there is a national conversation about cash after the NCT has decided to reverse it’s decision to go cashless.

Welcoming the news that the NCT has "seen sense" and will allow cash to be used to pay for the service, Deputy Tóibín said:

"The idea of saying to 350,000 people without bank accounts had to pay electronically for a service for which non payment could land you in jail or in with a massive fine is ridiculous. The NCT now join the AIB and the GAA in reversing the decision for mandatory electronic transactions. The truth is the minister of finance needs to set policy in this area. We need to decide what role cash will have in the future in Ireland.

“Electronic payments are the efficient payment choice of many people and that is absolutely fine, but allowing a cash option is still the most inclusive way to run a state service or a business. Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly old, young or on low incomes do not have bank accounts. Many businesses do not have card machines. Many people do not have access to sufficient ICT skills, broadband or even mobile phone signals to carry out electronic transactions. We have a duty of care especially with older people that they remain independent for as long as possible. Making them dependent on their children or neighbours just to transact with the world is wrong.

“Many others too rely on cash. Many people in the services industry rely on cash tips. Club fundraisers rely on cash for club lotteries. Charities, buskers, church gate collections will all suffer if the government allows the cash to be deleted in daily transactions. Having cash options available also reduces the danger of systemic electronic crises such as cyber-attacks on banks. ICT deficits in banks have already caused major problems this year. My own town of Navan over the weekend suffered from an outage on card machines necessitating cash for transactions.

"I have written to the cathaoirleach of the Finance Committee John McGuinness to request a meeting on the future of cash in Ireland and requesting that the Minister for Finance and representatives from the Central Bank and the Department of Finance would come before that committee to discuss this issue."