Cllr. Naoise Ó Muirí
Dublin City Council
Wednesday 10th March 2010
80% of Intoxicating Liquor Offence Fines Go Un-paid in 2009 – Ó Muirí
Percentage of unpaid DCC Intoxicating Liquor Offences goes from 74% in 2008 to 80% in 2009.
Dublin City Councilor Naoise Ó Muirí has today (Wednesday) expressed concern over recent figures received from the City Manager in relation to unpaid intoxicating liquor fine offences. (see Q.100 attached).
In 2008, a total of 1049 fines were issued with 774 still unpaid or under query, a massive 74%. In 2009, 808 fines were issued and 653 still remain unpaid or are under query, an increase of 6%, to 80%.
Is the reduction in fine volumes genuine or does it reflect a lack of confidence within the Gardaí in City Council’s ability to collect fines or prosecute accordingly?
Dublin City Liffey Board Walk has been highlighted to me a number of times as an area of growing concern. The purpose built promenade leading from Bachelors Walk to Lower Ormond Quay is designed to attract city centre lunch goers and tourists. This attraction should enhance the centre of Ireland’s capital city but often functions as a “chill-out” zone for drunks and drug addicts and as a consequence is often avoided by locals and tourists alike.
Dublin City Council need to put robust procedures in place to back up the Gardaí and prosecute the people who do not pay these fines, otherwise there will be no incentive for a positive change to this anti-social behaviour.
ENDS
Question to City Manager City Council Meeting 01/03/2010
Q100. COUNCILLOR NAOISE O’MUIRI
In relation to collection by Dublin City Council of all relevant fixed-fines issued by the Gardai in relation to e.g. consumption of alcohol in a public place can the Manager please provide the following information for 2008 and 2009:
– number of fines issued.
– breakdown of the status of those fines i.e. number collected, number outstanding by the various categories etc.
CITY MANAGER’S REPLY
A total of 1049 fines were issued by Gardaí during 2008 for Intoxicating Liquor offences. 275 Fines were paid. 81 were either withdrawn or are under query and 693 remain outstanding.
In 2009 a total of 808 Fines were issued by Gardaí .155 Fines were paid, 27 were withdrawn or are under query and 626 remain outstanding.
Under the Dublin City Council (Prohibition of Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor on Roads and in public places) Bye Laws 2008, the meaning of “Public Place” was expanded to include such places as the Liffey Board Walk and the amount of the fixed payment was increased to €75.
The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, Section 14, 37A (2) gave An Garda Síochána the power to seize intoxicating liquor in the possession of persons under the age of 18 years.
The high and unrecoupable cost associated with taking court action mean that prosecutions are generally targeted against repeat offenders or taken in areas which are known black spots for liquor offences.
