New fine collection law expected to reduce jail sentences for non-payment

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has commenced new legislation designed to dramatically reduce the number of people jailed for non-payment of fines.

The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 provides for the payment of fines over €100 by making instalments at local post offices, and empowers judges to make an Attachment Order before resorting to imprisonment.

Ms Fitzgerald said the system established by the law is “logical and proportionate”.

Fines will be set at a level that takes into account the person’s financial circumstances, and a person who defaults will be brought back to court for the judge to consider making an Attachment Order, whereby deductions would be made directly from the person’s income.

If it is not appropriate to make an Attachment Order, the judge can make either a Recovery Order, where the fine is more than €500, or a Community Service Order.

Imprisonment will only apply where none of these options are appropriate or the person fails to comply with it.

Ms Fitzgerald said: “I am confident that with the changes to the fines system that will flow from the implementation of the Act, the number of persons imprisoned for the non-payment of fines in the future will be greatly reduced.”

She also thanked the Courts Service of Ireland for its diligent work in making the necessary changes to IT and administrative systems.