Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
144. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance if, in light of the increasing number of popular cultural, agricultural and sporting events becoming cashless/card-only entry events, which is impacting particularly older people and new Irish arrivals, he will consider introducing regulations to ensure that these events are accessible to those who wish to pay with cash. [40883/23]
View answerThe Deputies will be aware that the Retail Banking Review, which was published in November 2022, contained a key recommendation for the Department to lead the development of a National Payments Strategy (NPS) to be completed in 2024.
Acceptance of cash is an area of focus for the NPS. The Terms of Reference sets out that the Strategy should examine whether there should be a legislative requirement put in place domestically in relation to the acceptance of payment methods by certain classes of firms, sectors or sub-sectors. The Strategy should also consider whether it should be Government policy that public bodies should accept, or facilitate the acceptance, of cash for the payment of goods, services, taxes, levies, fees or charges.
Work on the NPS is underway in my Department and a public consultation will be launched later this year. Consideration will be given to the acceptance of cash on a cross-sectoral basis, which includes the events sector. Access and choice in terms of promoting reasonable options for consumers and small business is a key principle of the strategy.
Additionally, on 28th of June 2023 the European Commission published a proposal which “ensures that the physical form of central bank money, euro cash, remains present, available and accepted by all euro-area residents and enterprises.” Consequently, cash acceptance is an important issue that is currently being considered at domestic level and at a European level.
