SEANAD REPORT: Two people, a male and a female, were in jail this week for nonpayment of debt, the House was told. The debt amounts ranged from almost €1,725 to over €5,500 in these cases, said Minister Dick Roche.
The length of sentence varied from seven to 60 days.
The number of persons in custody at any one time for nonpayment of debt reflected the fact that imprisonment was a sanction of last resort, said Mr Roche, who was responding, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, to concerns voiced by Mary White (FF). Calling for an overhaul of the present system, Ms White said that absolutely no-one benefited from the imprisonment of an individual for the nonpayment of debts.
"Not only is the debtor temporarily precluded from any chance of repaying because he or she cannot earn money during their incarceration, but the serving of warrants and imprisonment of individuals is a waste of taxpayers' money, prison space and Garda time."