Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that people should absolutely pay the fines that are imposed on them. If they do not pay, there should be some way of deducting it. The Deputy is right. If they do not pay the fines, they could be brought back into court again, because if they do not comply with the ruling of the court, that is an offence. I have to say that they do have certain rights. Repeat offenders have certain rights too even though it can be frustrating to see them appearing time and time again and getting free legal aid. I fully understand that. The European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to defend themselves in person or through legal assistance of their own choosing, or if they have insufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it for free when the interests of justice so require.

As mentioned, the criminal legal aid scheme was to operate with due regard to these rights. Any unreasonable block to legal aid could give a convicted defendant an avenue for appeal or prohibition of the prosecution. I absolutely take on board what the Deputy is saying and I will raise the matter again with the Minister for Justice. It is only right and proper, if a fine is imposed, that people pay the fine and pay their dues back to society for whatever reason it was imposed.

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