Digital euro will not replace cash

Legislation at EU and domestic level must remove ambiguity

A chara, – Your recent editorial on the digital euro (“The Irish Times view on the digital euro”, October 20th) raises interesting and important issues. As one of the small group of MEPs that is shaping legislation on this issue, I welcome any addition to the public debate on a matter that has so far not garnered the interest it deserves.

However, you fail to mention the key element in the public debate to date: the fear that the digital euro will replace cash. I don’t believe this is the intent of the designers of the digital euro but it should and must be consistently re-emphasised that cash will not be replaced.

Moreover, accompanying legislation at EU and domestic level must remove ambiguity about the right to use cash as a legitimate means of payment.

One person’s money should be worth the same as the next person’s, be it digital or paper. – Is mise,

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CHRIS MACMANUS, MEP

Maugheraboy,

Sligo.