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Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald (L) with Chief Justice Susan Denham at the presentation of the Courts Service Annual Report. Christina Finn

Justice Minister adds to calls for 'imaginative' solution to court backlogs

Road tax penalties, debt collectors, tax credit cuts have all been floated to deal with traffic fines.

FRANCES FITZGERALD HAS expressed support for proposals to keep road traffic offences out of the courts, and reduce a backlog of cases.

Speaking at the launch of the Courts Service Annual Report yesterday, she was echoing the views of Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Denham, who had earlier called for “imaginative ways” to deal with road traffic matters.

In her speech, Justice Denham highlighted the Courts Service’s finding that 58% of all summary matters to go before the courts related to traffic offences, and that this was the biggest single category of offence before the District Court in 2013.

Unlike other jurisdictions, non payment of fines for traffic offences automatically results in a driver being summonsed to court…This puts a great strain on the courts system. Perhaps we should look at imaginative ways of avoiding this scenario?

Nobody benefits from Court hearings being packed with matters which might just as easily be dealt with via another route.

Proposals to prevent relatively minor traffic offences from clogging up the proceedings of the courts have included:

  • subtracting the value of unpaid fines from tax credits
  • adding the unpaid fine to road tax
  • contracting private debt collection agencies to ensure payment of fines

After her own remarks at the event, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald expressed support, in principle, for Denham’s proposals.

The Chief Justice made an interesting point about the number of cases relating to traffic offences, and we should consider alternatives to that.That is certainly something that should be examined.

Additional reporting by Christina Finn.

Read: Drivers, cyclists urged to brush up on road safety to curb bike accidents>

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19 Comments
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 25th 2014, 6:39 AM

    You generally don’t want to hear the phrase “imaginative” used in connection with justice.

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    Mute BushmanB
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    Jul 25th 2014, 6:47 AM

    Sure just add it into the USC and we’ll all pay it like having to pay for the free legal aid so graciously shovelled out every day.

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    Mute R Neuville
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:53 AM

    I will never pay a traffic fine again …. having been driven off Irish roads after paying my road tax for 40 years with a road tax demand of €951 for my 10 year old car while those who can afford NEW CARS pay a fraction of this road tax. Ireland a disgusting place to live.

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    Mute Mark Hennelly
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:22 AM

    What car you driving and what is the size of the engine?

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    Mute Bill
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:52 AM

    No you are disgusting to the environment so you pay more, proper order. If you can’t afford a new car I suggest a good conversation with the mirror as all blame lies there

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    Mute R Neuville
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:39 AM

    People who can’t afford new cars subsidising the road tax of the wealthy who can …. Ireland a disgusting place to live.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:41 AM

    What the hell are you driving? That doesn’t sound right unless it’s a ship.

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    Mute Anna Dawson
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    Jul 25th 2014, 1:49 PM

    It’s a motor tax and not a road tax so it relates to the quality/size of the engine so older bigger cars pay more. You could still get a second hand car (2 years old say) and look for one with better fuel efficiency and less harmful emissions and a smaller engine.
    Also, anyone who wants to keep a car should realise it’s an ongoing expense and keep an eye on rates for motor tax, insurance, and on the nct standards so to project when a newer car is needed and start saving accordingly.

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    Mute R Neuville
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    Jul 25th 2014, 3:51 PM

    “The revenue from this tax is used to maintain and upgrade the road network in Ireland.” http://www.gov.ie/services/renew-motor-tax-online/

    Why are those who cannot afford new cars subsidising the wealthy who can, to maintain the Irish road network for them? Ireland a disgusting place to live.

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    Mute Mark Hennelly
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    Jul 25th 2014, 5:47 PM

    You are still avoiding the question.

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    Mute Bill
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:26 AM

    Less pomp and parades, 9 hour court session every day- simples, but alas the legal class need their egos massaged

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    Mute Kevin Bell
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:27 AM

    Parades?

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:24 AM

    Motoring fines should be collected using the motor tax system, not the personal tax system.
    Impound the car, problem solved.

    26
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:40 AM

    That punishes both users of the car even if one of them is a responsible driver.

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    Mute Anton de Buitlear
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:31 AM

    Did you ever here such stupid words coming out of so caled educated people, how can you afford to pay your road tax fine , when you next buy road tax , if you could not afford it in the first place,let the post offices sell the people the road tax and let the people buy it on a monthly basis simple, and easier on people’s pockets I bet there would be no tax fines then, also let it be known to the debt collection agency about been not invited onto your property, they would have to suffer the invasion of privacy act , and I for one have no problem in forcing that act,

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    Mute Brian Farren
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    Jul 25th 2014, 6:45 AM

    Private Debt collection agencies have no legal standing in Ireland. Why not abolish the current unfair and add a tax onto the price of fuel. The more you use the more you pay. I know there would be a flock of people going North to get cheaper fuel.

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    Mute Bill
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:55 AM

    All fine and well but if you owe me money I’m getting it I don’t care if you end up on the street, my money is all that’s important

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jul 25th 2014, 12:33 PM

    Brian, that is the best way to collect such a tax as people pay an amount proportionate to their usage and the fuel companies handle the collection and payment to government………as they already do. However, the part of the civil service that deal with motor tax collection would be decimated, so thought would need to be given as to how those folk are handled. However, as those jobs are, effectively, “make work”, (given a viable alternative means of collection), that bullet should be bitten sooner rather than later. Asking the UK government to follow suit for NI would help alleviate the cross-border supply problem. From October, UK vehicles will still need to pay VEDA – Vehicle Excise Duty, (Road Tax), but will no longer be issued with Tax a Discs to display as proof of payment…….it will all rely on ANPR. That, to me, is the first step to abolishing VED and rolling it into fuel duty.
    Lots more to write on this but time for lunch.

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    Mute Robin Tobin
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:21 AM

    Reform promised reform and more promises of reform but when they go to the UN having not reformed on those promises it is all the victims vaults they were responsible for their injustice because us the government promised reform every year. We need to hear “the reform has been put in place”

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