Vol. 473 No. 6
260 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to amend the law to ensure that sanctions other than prisons, such as confiscation of assets or direct debit of entitlements, would be used for offences such as nonpayment of fines. [2372/97]
While it is worth mentioning that there is an obligation on the courts when imposing a fine to take into account the means of the offender, I can also inform the Deputy that I am at present considering various proposals in relation to the payment of fines and, in particular, the introduction of a system of attachment of earnings whereby the court could order that outstanding fines be deducted from a person's earnings. This would represent a form of payment by instalment. I am at present having research carried out in relation to this matter and any proposals which may emerge will be announced in the usual way in due course.
