Time to hold on to cash a little longer and repel the advances of a cashless world...

The move towards a cashless society continues unabated in Ireland. It’s a complex transition as coins and notes become outdated by a plastic card that soon enough ends up in landfill.

The push towards using cards over cash is felt in many aspects of life and the bastion of Irish culture, the GAA, have now fully embraced it with no means to purchase tickets by cash for Intercounty or many club games at the venues any more.

Cashless events disadvantage a cohort of society that prefers to use cash or cheque for whatever reason.
Some may prefer to use cash, while others have limited internet access, particularly in rural parts of the country. The result could be that many just don’t go to the sporting fixtures or music events.

The issue was raised in parliament recently. No solution was found but the reality is that the push is on by businesses and organisations to remove the cash payment option. Banks benefit by having full access to each transaction made and knowing what each individual customer spends their euros on.

Banks now are just machines in some cases and the withdrawal of ATMs and face to face interaction is lamented by many who require that interaction.

Businesses argue that cashfree is more straightforward, less time consuming than using cash and that online is the future yet we have seen in recent times how vulnerable society is to internet crashes and groups with sinister motives.

The recent HSE cyberattack shows the vulnerability of digitalization. Even more recently the cyclone that caused havoc through New Zealand with a crash in power supply and telecommunications failures meant that the public had no means to access their funds or carry out transactions with power lines down for days.

Womens Aid here in Ireland have stated that financial abuse is a real concern as many in vulnerable positions will find it increasingly difficult to ensure they have some cash to use when needed independent of their abuser.
Age Action Ireland have also said that many people in Ireland were at risk of digital exclusion which means in reality many not embracing a cashless society are at risk of being active members in a society where digital decides who can access sporting events, gyms, concerts, buses, trains and aeroplanes.

‘Tap and go’ has become the norm in supermarkets too where goods are paid for swiftly with the bank card while only certain tills will accept cash so the issues are widespread across daily life.
Children growing up in these times could find it difficult to realise the value of money, to save and budget, if they grow up with simply a piece of plastic or a mobile phone to buy products and services.
Solutions must be found to ensure an easier transition over time rather than the abrupt "no card - no sale" mentality that has become widespread since the recent pandemic. An easy transition is vital for many.

The GAA stance on not accepting cash on matchdays has meant that some who attended matches all their lifetime haven't been able to access games in recent times.
They could ask someone to get them a ticket online or in certain stores, but some will simply drift away.
Perhaps one turnstile could be accessible to accommodate these patrons on matchday and ensure they aren't lost to the association they have connected to all their lives.

The ironic thing is that for those that attend games, cash is needed to buy a match day programme or a cup of coffee at the back of the stand.

On the other side of the coin, so to speak, the benefits of tap and go are manifold. Less handling of cash means less bacteria and viruses being transmitted through handling cash.

While lost cash is gone, a misplaced or stolen card can be cancelled relatively quickly. Ultimately though it is more convenient for the seller to move cashless and that is probably why the change has happened so quickly.
The pace of change in society has quickened, perhaps it’s time to pause and reflect.