Sir, – How would a cashless society cope with a cyber attack on the banking system? Would bartering work? How many spuds for a litre of milk?
Would a piglet cover a trolley load of groceries, or would it cost a sheep? How many barrow loads of organic fertiliser would pay a year’s banking charges?
We saw how long it took for the HSE to recover from the last cyber attack, but emergencies still happened and were still treated. If the banking system were paralysed by a similar or even worse cyber attack, essential purchases would still need to made and essential services would still need to be paid for. Perhaps a Government committee could draw up a contingency plan. Will the advisers accept payment in animals, vegetables or minerals? – Yours, etc,
ANNE BYRNE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – I agree totally with all the protests about the proposed moves to a cashless society and the removal of so many cash machines and branches by the banks. The ill-effects on many sections of society have been spelled out, correctly: people in rural areas, older people generally, many small businesses, etc. But what about our kids and grandchildren? How can we teach them how to handle money if it becomes so scarce? Do we throw away their piggy-banks and tell them to save their few euro in bank accounts? Do we give them our cards every time they go to the shops for us, or want us to get them a few sweets? Or do we give every three year-old a bank card of their own?
It’s crazy – and very shortsighted. – Yours, etc,
ROSHEEN CALLENDER,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The fact that AIB has moved so swiftly to reverse its nonsensical decision to convert 70 of its branches to a “cashless” service indicates that its management either made an absolutely good business case based on sound data and analysis, in which case it would and should have refused to reverse its decision, or alternatively and more likely their decision was based on opportunism and incompetence.
If senior banking executives wish to know what their customers want they should visit their branches and talk to them.
Remember also that these same executives constantly lobby Government in respect of their remuneration and arrogantly claim that all caps on high-level pay be removed.
They are totally out of touch and out of credibility. – Yours, etc,
HUGH PIERCE,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – We have no State control over the geographical location of the main street banks, but fortunately we do have control over the post office network. We need a Government plan to strengthen the post office network and to bring more banking facilities, including an ATM, into every post office. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL HARRINGTON,
Beara,
Co Cork.
Sir, – I now have no local bank, and no local cash machine. The post office closed some years ago. The mattress would appear to be the only substitute.
MARION WALSH,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Maybe taxpayers should have used the excuse that we were " cashless” not all that long ago when AIB was up to its oxters in debt. – Yours, etc,
AILEEN HOOPER,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – AIB’s ongoing advertising claims to have been backing brave. Now we see them backing down. What’s next? Backing out? – Yours, etc,
MELANIE HUNTER,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.