Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 17:

In page 30, subsection (4), line 46, to delete "€5,000" and substitute "€3,000".

We want people who break the law to be penalised but a fine of €5,000 is harsh for many offences. We propose a reduction to €3,000. I am reminded of a man from Donegal, whom I met yesterday, who received the grant of planning permission yesterday from the Minister's previous Department, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As politicians do — we enjoy advising people on their entitlements — I asked if he had received his grant. He said he had but that he had also been fined €5,000. That is a story for another day but €5,000 is a massive amount of money for somebody starting to build a house, especially for a minor indiscretion.

Section 24 states that where a person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction, he or she is liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months, or to both. Amendment No. 19 seeks to reduce this to one month.