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      • What is a Payment Card?
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• Credit cards were first issued in Ireland in the early 1970s
• There are now more than 3.4 million debit cards and 2.2 million credit cards in Ireland
• A total of €23 billion was spent on payment cards in Ireland in 2010 (debit cards €12 billion and credit cards €11 billion)
• In 2010, Ireland had 316 million payment card transactions, 208 million on debit cards and 108 million on credit cards
• There are 8 payment card issuers in Ireland and more than 100,000 retailers that accept debit and credit cards
• Government stamp duty is charged on payment cards. This is unique to Ireland

For further information on payment cards please click on the menu to the left.