Vol. 486 No. 6
282 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications he has received to open petitions against court imposed fines; the number of petitions opened; the numbers granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3334/98]
As I indicated by way of written answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 244 and 248 on 3 February 1998, there were approximately 5,200 petitions on hand when I took up office towards the end of June 1997.
Petitions statistics are maintained by reference to petitions finalised rather than petitions received. Approximately 500 applications to open a petition have been received since the end of June 1997. I refused to open a petition in eight cases, I refused to allow petitions in 101 cases and I agreed to reissue for administrative purposes an offer to partially mitigate a fine in one case.
