Mayo senator calls for end to cash ‘discrimination’

Mayo Fine Gael senator, Mark Duffy, has said that denying people who do not use cards access to basic services is totally unfair and discriminating against those who have made a firm decision to use cash as legal tender.

Senator Duffy recently welcomed the terms of the ‘Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure Bill’ which has reached committee stage in the Seanad. The primary focus of the bill is to ensure that cash remains as a readily available option for people and allows everyone to participate fully in society.

“Despite the growing popularity of electronic payments and online banking, cash remains the preferred payment option for many people for reasons including privacy, security and convenience.

“Recent Department of Finance surveys have shown that one in four people still prefer cash as a payment option and that figure rises to 50 percent for people aged 65+,” he said.

Discrimination

People who use cash face unwanted discrimination in various aspects of daily life. Aer Lingus no longer has an option to pay for in-flight food and drink. Securing tickets to sporting events along with booking hotels have constant barriers in place actively discriminating against a major section of the population.

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When a major power failure knocked out Spain, Portugal and part of France some weeks ago, cash immediately became king again.

“There are so many areas that people need cash in hand and it is totally unfair for business, accommodation providers and corporations to put barriers in their way and refuse to accept cash. People have an inalienable right to use cash as legal tender and nothing should be put in the way of that.

“It is vital that measures are taken to avoid ‘digital exclusion’ especially in relation to older people and those living in rural areas. The proposed ‘Access to Cash’ bill seeks to ensure that those whose preference remains cash will have convenient access both to ATM machines and also to cash service points (bank branches and post offices).”

The Mayo senator said insisting on card payment is not right. “There are times when operations like Ticketmaster go down and are not working. People need a choice. There are big corporations that are trying to take the human and personal element out of every interaction. Legal tender should not be denied and should be available for all goods and services.

“We must remember that citizens retain the right to use cash and that this should be facilitated and not restricted for example by airlines or at football matches,” he added.