Vol. 555 No. 4
19 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to act on the recommendation of the Law Reform Commission that fines should be index-linked and should vary to take account of offenders' ability to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/02]
In July, 2002 the Law Reform Commission published a report on the Indexation of Fines: A Review of Developments, LRC 65 – 2002. I am at present examining that report in the context of two separate Bills dealing with fines which have been under preparation for some time in my Department, one a proposed Indexation of Fines Bill to provide for the updating and indexation of fines and the other an Enforcement of Fines Bill, the purpose of which is to end imprisonment where practicable for inability to pay fines and to provide for new ways of enforcing fines. Both of those Bills are due for publication next year.
