Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mitigation Petitions.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

308 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 can pay his fine at the end of January 1999 in view of the fact that his wife has been hospitalised and they have a very low income. [26396/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

No application to open a petition on behalf of the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by me. I have arranged to forward to the Deputy the appropriate application form which should be completed and returned to my office by the person concerned.

I should, however, bring to the Deputy's attention the fact that the 1995 High Court judgment on petitions stated that the power of clemency which I may exercise must be used sparingly and only in special and exceptional circumstances. As a consequence of applying the High Court judgment to the assessment of petitions or applications to open a petition, approximately 99 per cent of petition cases which I have adjudicated on have had to be refused.