Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

What the Deputy described, where somebody who owed €240 to eFlow contacted the company and agreed a graduated payment but nonetheless ended up with a €1,000 charge due to enhanced fines or other interest costs, seems unacceptable, although I do not have all the details. That would not encourage people to do what my prepared reply recommended, whereby customers in such a position should ensure they contact the company. The Deputy might convey further details on the case to me or the Minister of State, given if it is a constituent of his I am sure he will be equally interested, because it does not seem that would encourage public support.

With regard to the issue of fines escalating because of non-payment, I fully understand the Deputy's case that the fines are significant. I imagine the company would argue in defence that it needs some mechanism to ensure people will pay. Personally, whenever I use the M50, I try to ensure I pay the toll promptly, given I am aware there can be a significant escalation. Nevertheless, that is different from what the Deputy cited in the first instance, which sounds like an anomaly, if it was allowed to happen in that way.

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