Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the subject of committal, I welcome the Minister's announcement last week that the legislation will be commenced in the new year, so we will no longer see people committed to prison for non-payment of fines. Senator Mooney raises a pertinent issue. There will probably be a reduction in the number of committals, one hopes, but perhaps not a reduction in the numbers incarcerated, given how short a period of time people tend to spend in prison when they are committed for non-payment of fines, as we saw last week. Perhaps the Minister can comment on that.