The Fines Bill 2009, which introduces significant changes in the operation of the payment of fines and is expected to reduce numbers of people imprisoned for non-payment of fines, has been signed into law by President Mary McAleese. With 5,000 people imprisoned last year for non-payment of fines, a number four times that of 2007, this legislation will introduce the concept of "equality of impact" which will allow judges to set the level of fines according to a person‟s ability to pay. The legislation enables judges to facilitate people to pay fines in installments, with a court-appointed receiver seizing goods upon default. Judges will also have the discretion to sentence people to community service for failing to pay fines, rather than imprisonment.
The Probation Service, in light of the new legislation, has agreed to increase the maximum number of community service orders it handles per year from 1,600 to 6,000 to assist in keeping people out of jail.
To view the Fines Bill 2009, as passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, please follow the link http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2009/1809/b18c09d.pdf.