Burke welcomes reforms to fine payment system

Fine Gael Senator for Cork North Central, Colm Burke, has today (Monday) welcomed the commencement of the Fines (Payment & Recovery) Act 2014. The introduction of this legislation means that the non- payment of fines will no longer result in prison sentences except as a last resort, instead the fine can be deducted from a person’s earnings by way of instalments.
“The introduction of this necessary legislation is to be warmly welcomed. It will dramatically reduce the amount of people being imprisoned for non-payment of fines and will free up resources within our prison system. This system is logical and proportionate and will go a long way towards dealing with the non-payment of fines.
“Following the non-payment of fines, this legislation allows for fines to be deducted from a person’s earning at source by instalments, following the issuance of an attachment order. If the fine still remains unpaid, the court can impose a community service order. Only if this order is not adhered to, can the court impose a prison sentence.”
“The Fines (Payment & Recovery) Act 2014 comes into force from today. (11th January 2016). This delivers on the Programme for Government”