27 April 2017
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Green Party in Cork have come out in support of calls to link road traffic and other fines to the payer’s income.
The system, which is used in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland, would mean that those on a higher income would pay a higher fine when they break the law.
The idea is being put forward by the chief executive of the Road Safety Authority, Moyagh Murdock, who said, “€80 is nothing to someone who is driving a Range Rover.” The plan is expected to be included in a safety strategy to be given shortly to Minister for Transport Shane Ross by the RSA.
However, the move was “vehemently opposed” by the general secretary of the Garda Representative Association, Pat Ennis, at the Association’s annual conference in Galway this week.
Oliver Moran from the Green Party in Cork
Speaking after the comments by the Garda Representative Association, Oliver Moran, the Green Party representative in Cork North Central said:
“The principle is a simple one. Fines should hurt and serve as a reminder not to break the law. But what’s a lot of money to some people, might be pittance to somebody else. There’s a basic element of fairness to take into account what a person earns so that everyone who offends feels an equal sting.”
The Green Party policy in favour of what’s called a “day-fine” system, where the fine to be paid is based on the offender’s daily personal income, was adopted at the party’s national convention in Cork in 2016.
