Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of fines that were paid since the enactment of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 in January 2016, specifically in relation to those that are fined for smuggling or selling illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol; the number of persons sent to prison for non payment; the number of attachment orders imposed; her plans to extend the legislation to allow for recovery of fines by the attachment of social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39186/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Since the commencement of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) 2014 Act on 11 January 2016, where fines remain unpaid by the due date, the fined persons must be notified to return to court to enable the Judge to impose whatever sanction the court considers appropriate in default of payment. The options available to the Judge are as follows: attachment of earnings; recovery order; community service; or , if none of these options are appropriate, imprisonment.

I have been informed by the Courts Service that default notices will issue from Quarter 1 2017 to fined persons notifying them of their default court hearing date, when the Judge will consider the appropriate sanction. Since default hearings have not yet commenced no fined person have been sent to prison for non payment of fines nor have any attachment orders been imposed. I have no plans to extend the legislation to allow for recovery of fines by the attachment of social protection payments.

The table provides details of fines imposed specifically in relation to those who are fined for smuggling or selling illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol.