Mr. Peter Mullan:

As I outlined to Deputy MacSharry, the Courts Service board was quite critical of the fines legislation before it was enacted. However, when it was enacted, we brought in the technical expertise to ensure it was enforced. When it became clear last summer that it was not working in the manner intended or collecting the level of moneys it ought, we raised that with the Courts Service board and the Chief Justice raised the matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality in January of this year. To answer the Deputy's question in simple terms, it is not working in the manner it should.