Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 6, before section 3, but in Part 2, to insert the following new section:

3.—The Minister shall, within 2 months of the enactment of this Act, report to the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection on the progress made on providing a system of attachment to social welfare payments for fines and civil debt.".

This amendment seeks that the Minister, within two months of the enactment of the Bill, would report to the Joint Committee on Social Protection on the progress made in providing a system of attachment to social welfare payments for fines and civil debt. This amendment was also discussed in the Dáil and I feel very strongly about people going to jail for not paying small amounts of debt. There is a good deal of frustration, especially within the Garda Síochána, and an enormous waste of money where gardaí bring someone to court, he or she is sentenced to jail and released the next day. This amendment seeks to allow fines and civil debt to be attached to social welfare payments.