Parliamentary Question: Juvenile Offenders.

30th September 2004

208. Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the position of the Juvenile Justice Alliance that his plans to impose fines of up to €400 on children and young persons charged with minor offences and to send fixed penalty notices directly to the children's parents contradict the principles and provisions of the Children Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23118/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):  I have no plans at present to introduce fines of up to €400 on children charged with minor offences or to send fixed penalty notices directly to the children's parents. The law on the imposition of fines on child offenders by a court is set out at sections 108 to 110 of the Children Act 2001. These provisions, with the exception of subsection (1)(b)(iii) of section 110, came into operation on 1 May 2002 and I have no plans to change them.