Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the policy changes he is making to ensure citizens who do not pay fines are not sent to prison; his views on the progress made over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12735/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013 is currently before the Seanad having completed its passage through the Dáil on 19 February last. The Bill repeals Part 3 of the Fines Act 2010 and replaces it with a comprehensive fines payment and recovery regime that will ensure:

- that the court takes a person's financial circumstances into account when setting the fine;

- that it is easier for a person to pay a fine by providing that all fines may be paid by instalments;

- that where fines are not paid, the court can make an attachment order requiring the person's employer to deduct the fine from their earnings, a recovery order directing a receiver to recover the fine, including through the disposal of assets of the person, or a community service order requiring the person to perform community service;

- that a person is only committed to prison where it is not possible to make any of three orders referred to above or where a person fails to comply with a community service order.

I expect, subject to the Bill completing its passage through the Oireachtas before the Summer, that its provisions can come into effect this Autumn. The Bill, as amended, is available on the Oireachtas website.