Ivana Bacik (Independent)

The Minister said the periods of imprisonment in the table are maximum periods. However, this is not quite clear in section 17(a) which states the court "may make an order committing the person to prison for a term not exceeding the appropriate period of imprisonment specified in the Table". It seems to me that the term "appropriate period of imprisonment" implies that period is a set comparator or alternative to the fine amount rather than a maximum. There is a slight lack of clarity here and I ask the Minister to take another look at it before Report Stage.

I would like to have seen more clarity in section 17 that imprisonment would be the final sanction or sanction of last resort and that a community service order would have been the default sanction on fine default.