Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the implementation of Section 15 of the Fines Act 2010; if any interim arrangement will be introduced to facilitate the payment of court fines by instalment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40519/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Section 15 of the Fines Act 2010, which has not yet been commenced, provides for the payment of fines by instalments. To avail of this facility, a person must apply to the court and the court must be satisfied that requiring the person to pay the fine in full by the due date would impose undue hardship. It is not an automatic facility open to all persons on whom fines are imposed. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce attachment of earnings to collect unpaid fines. It is my view, having reviewed how the fine payment and recovery system will work after the introduction of attachment of earnings, that the system set out in the Fines Act needs considerable amendment on a number of fronts. To that end, I am finalising proposals for the approval of Government, which are aimed, on the one hand, at making it easier for people to pay fines and on the other, at making the recovery of fines more efficient and effective. I hope to be in a position to publish these proposals in the coming weeks with a view to having them enacted and operational by the middle of 2013.