A fine move - New moves to collect penalties

ANYONE who regularly listens to radio programmes that carry reports from outside our courts will realise that being sent to prison for the non-payment of fines is hardly a discomfort, much less a deterrant, to those regularly in that position. 

Two hours in jail for non-payment of, say, a €500 fine is seen as a bit of a laugh, a chance to give two fingers to the system.

Therefore, confirmation from Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald that systems will be in place by the end of the year which will “effectively eliminate” the jailing of fine defaulters is most welcome. Ms Fitzgerald’s announcement comes almost six years after laws facilitating the shift were enacted.

The number of fine defaulters sent to jail, however briefly, doubled between 2009 and 2014, when almost 9,000 were jailed. Under the new regime fines may be paid in instalments in post offices or deducted from income sources. This is a real advance and will restore credibility to a system undermined by out-of-date practices.