Vol. 478 No. 5
120 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of petitions received by her to reduce or waive fines imposed by the courts; and the number of petitions granted or rejected in each of the past three years and in 1997 to date. [11657/97]
Statistics relating to petitions are maintained by reference to petitions finalised and the number of petitions finalised and the outcome for each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out hereunder. Estimated numbers of petitions received are calculated from time to time and such calculations as are available are also provided.
|
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 (Jan-Mar) |
|
|
Received (estimated figure) |
4,100 |
3,120 |
1,600 |
200 |
|
Finalised |
4,266 |
818 |
295 |
137 |
|
Refused |
2,224 |
640 |
274 |
125 |
|
Successful |
2,042 |
178 |
21 |
12 |
121 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of petitions received by her to commute or reduce sentences in the past two years; and her views on whether any such early releases should be disclosed in the first instance to the victim of the crime. [11658/97]
The bulk of petitions received relate to the reduction of fines imposed by the courts. A very small percentage, less than 1 per cent of petitions relate to petitioning sentences, requesting me to commute a sentence to a fine. Since becoming Minister I have commuted only one sentence to a fine under the petition system, after consultation with the Judge.
