But the Oireachtas finance committee stopped short of recommending that shops should be legally obliged to accept cash

Irish Rural Link made the submission to the Oireachtas finance committee examining the Access to Cash Bill

Asked if small businesses would be forced to accept cash in the future, Mr McGrath said the department had not come to a final view on the matter

As well as providing cash machines, Finance Minister Michael McGrath will set out essential services that will have to give customers the option of paying in cash