John O'Donoghue
Question:162 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners in Irish prisons today as a result of their failure to pay a debt on foot of committal orders or their failure to pay a fine. [11433/95]
Written Answers. - Non-Payment of Debts.
On Friday, 16 June 1995, out of a total of 2,153 persons in custody, seven persons were in custody on warrants relating to the non-payment of debts and 22 persons were in custody on warrants relating to the non-payment of fines imposed by the Courts.
These persons constituted less than 1.5 per cent of the prison population on the day in question.
John O'Donoghue
Question:163 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice if it is her intention to revoke the Debtors (Ireland) Act in view of the statement by the Taoiseach on Friday, 9 June 1995, in Paris when he stated that those who are imprisoned because of their indebtedness should be released from prison. [11434/95]
I take it that the Deputy is referring to statements made by the Taoiseach to the effect that people in prison for non-payment of debt may be dealt with in other ways.
As I informed the House in reply to Priority Question No. 4 of 8 June 1995, I am at present reviewing the whole question of the payment of debts and fines. In particular, I indicated that I was examining a system of attachment of income where a court could order fines or debts to be deducted from a person's income. This would be intended to ensure the collection of the amount due in a way which would be manageable for the debtor (or offender) and avoid the option of imprisonment.
I also informed the House that the various options would require legislation and that, when my examination of all the issues had been concluded, I would waste no time in bringing forward any proposals for legislative change which I and the government believed was desirable.