Round-up: Commencement of Fines Legislation

13th January 2016

On Monday 11^th January 2016, the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 was commenced by Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald. IPRT strongly welcomes this step and in particular the introduction of the facility to pay court-ordered fines by instalment, more than 5 years after it was first included in the Fines Act 2010.

Responding to the news, IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone said:

“This is a victory for common sense: imprisoning people for failure to pay court ordered fines is not only socially damaging, it creates an illogical and additional burden on an already strained prison system. Ending the practice of imprisonment for failure to pay fines will reduce unnecessary and damaging committals to prison, as well as saving the taxpayer money.”

Read more:

• Department of Justice and Equality: Minister Fitzgerald commences Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014
• IPRT: Statement
• Irish Examiner: New court fine payment system will "dramatically reduce" number of jail sentences

Listen Back: 

• RTÉ Nine News: Deirdre Malone speaks on ‘New measures on paying fines come into effect’
• RTÉ Morning Ireland: Deirdre Malone interviewed on ‘New system to pay court fines by instalment’