Madam, – The news that 540 people were jailed for minor fines last year is simply shocking. It hearkens back to Dickensian times and debtors’ prisons. Also the cost of the prisoners’ upkeep defies logic, especially in these troubled times.
The solution, however, is simple. Every person in this State either pays tax or gets welfare benefits; the organs of the State administering this being the Revenue and the Department of Social Welfare.
Where a taxpayer fails to pay fine on time, the amount could be deducted from their credits for the year. Where the social welfare recipient fails to pay, the amount could be deducted from their benefits over the year. In both cases interest could also be charged.
For extreme and severe cases MABS could work out something with the State on the debtor’s behalf.
This way fines would be paid, prisons have more capacity, and all could possibly be “revenue neutral”! Is the solution perhaps too simple? – Yours, etc,