Statistics on the number of persons committed to prison custody as a result of failure to comply with a court order in relation to the non-payment of a civil debt are set out in the following table. The table covers the years from 2001 to 2009.
Year
|
Total
|
2001
|
134
|
2002
|
184
|
2003
|
221
|
2004
|
200
|
2005
|
223
|
2006
|
194
|
2007
|
201
|
2008
|
276
|
2009
|
186 (until 30 June 2009)
|
Figures are not available for the year 2000 as the Prisoner Records Information System was only introduced in the course of that year.
Debtor offences comprise a failure to meet loan repayments to banks and other financial institutions, including credit unions, but also include failure to pay maintenance debt, hire purchase agreements or creditor loans.
The average length of sentence imposed for debt defaulters in 2009 is 24 days imprisonment. I can advise the Deputy that as of 30 June 2009 there are no persons in custody solely for debt default.
Imprisonment for non-payment of debt was abolished by the Debtors (Ireland) Act 1872. However, refusal to pay a contractual debt may amount to civil contempt of court, for which imprisonment may be imposed.