Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In Sweden, the penalty is up to one year's imprisonment, but that rarely happens. If one accepts responsibility, one is fined and, I think, one's name is retained on a register. I do not think the name is published. However, the imprisonment deterrent is there if a person alleges that he or she was not responsible. I think only one person has been taken to court. I note that in its presentation the ICI recommended a fine-by-post approach only, not imprisonment. If I am correct, there is an issue of legal precedent in Ireland whereby one cannot get legal aid unless the offence committed renders one liable to imprisonment. Perhaps the ICI could take the committee through the rationale of proposing something that is not exactly in keeping with the Swedish model.