Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

These amendments will provide for an upper limit on the amount the National Transport Authority can prescribe as a fixed payment for any of the offences specified as such under section 46. In the case of fixed payment offences, under road traffic legislation the Minister prescribes the fixed payment amount which, in principle, should be a fraction of the fine on conviction for the offence, with due regard to the economic circumstances of the person concerned and, of course, his or her ability to pay. Therefore, the amendments will provide parameters within which the National Transport Authority will have the power to make regulations specifying the fixed payment amounts for each fixed payment offence which will be no more than 10% of the fine applicable on conviction. This also will provide reassurance for the industry with regard to the ability of individuals to pay the fees involved and has taken on board some comments I, as Minister of State, have received.