Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These amendments deal with the value of fines eligible to be paid in instalments under the Bill. In the Bill as it stands only fines greater than €100 in value can be paid by instalment. However under section 6(5)(b) where more than one fine is imposed at a court sitting these fines can be added together and if the total exceeds €100 they can be paid by instalment. Having considered this provision in further consultation with the Courts Service I proposed replacement of section 6(5)(b). Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 provide instead that where a number of fines are imposed which do not qualify to be paid by instalment the judge can take this fact into account when fixing the due date for payment. If a fine of less than €100 is imposed there is no change and it cannot be paid by instalment, but if two €60 fines are imposed the judge can fix a later due date for payment than he or she would otherwise have fixed if only one fine of €120 was ordered which could be paid by instalment.

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