New laws are being developed to ensure consumers can still pay with cash.
The Department of Finance is looking ways to maintain access to cash payments.
A National Payments Strategy is due to be published next year, and follows the Retail Banking Review which was carried out last year.
Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent, Sinead Ryan, says it's important to preserve the use of cash in society.
"It's the way lots of people still do business, particularly those on a very tight budget on tight incomes, and indeed lots of older people who may have not gotten their heads around smart phones and online banking.
"It's a pity we have to legislate for it, to be perfectly honest. Increasingly you'll have seen signes popping up in restaurants and in bars saying 'card only'."
