September 19th, the Government says, is designated E-Day, when the State will stop using cheques to go about its normal business.

The National Payments Plan is a national programme to reduce the use of cash and cheques.

It’s all about efficiency and saving money, you see.

No less than 13 officials turned out for Wednesday’s NPP press briefing, outnumbering the journalists by more than three to one. Efficiency, how are ya. To the bemusement of the four hacks, only three of the officials actually spoke. How much money would have been saved had the thumb-twiddling 10 put their time to better use?