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THERE HAS BEEN an increase in the court’s poor box receipts, despite the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan stating that the system “is no longer a fit place in justice administration”.
The latest Courts Service report shows that in 2017, poor box receipts amounted to €2,007,000. This is a rise from 2016, which showed receipts stood at €1,720,000.
The minister told TheJournal.ie yesterday that it is his intention to abolish the system, stating that he is working on appropriate legislation to scrap the scheme whereby offenders contribute to charity in lieu of conviction, or for a lesser conviction, at the discretion of individual judges.
Flanagan said he hopes to publish the legislation by the end of the year.
The poor box is mostly used by the District Courts, but the takings vary in different areas around the country.
Court Service figures showed that Kerry’s poor box paid out nearly €400,000 in 2016, which is a quarter of the overall total, while Mayo paid out just under €10,000.
Earlier this year, it was announced that payments to organisations from the poor box are to be published on the Courts Service website to ensure greater accountability and transparency.
There has been much debate about the poor box system over the years, with one of Flanagan’s predecessors, Alan Shatter, also committing to getting rid of the scheme in 2014.
In 2005, the Law Reform Commission recommended that the operation of the poor box be put on a statutory footing with a number of recommendations to make the system more accountable.
It was recommended that rather than leaving it to individual judges to decide what charities would benefit, all the money should be paid into one central fund and a committee should be set up to administer that fund and decide which charities should benefit.
In 2015, it was revealed that drivers around the country were avoiding penalty points by making donations to the poor box.
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They have risen from the ashes, economically and meteorologically and have adopted a great strategy in my view. Putting PEOPLE first
In contrast, schoolboy Kenny will be paying another €3.5 billion to Bondholders before the end of 2012…. Fianna Fail signed Ireland’s death cert. I pray that one day, the Irish people stop paying taxes and maybe then the bondholder payments get stopped. It must happen one way or another – yes there are side effects but overall we will save €30 billion by burning the promissory note to Anglo Irish Bank. Pray that Irish people will stand-up, pray.
Even the ash clouds didnt stop these people from rising #PeoplePower
Icelanders protested and demonstrated until their government listened. People power. Why can’t we do the same in Ireland? Heres why… there is a huge swathe of our population who are still very well off and don’t fully understand or want to believe the extent of the state of our economy. If anyone tries to organise a demo or protest, the media and majority of the population brand the protesters lefties, hooligans, shinners etc. This country has no national pride. Let know one be fooled, the very comfortable ‘ middle class’ in Ireland, majority of whom are public servants, don’t want to know about demonstrations or protests.
Rubbish. There is a huge swathe of our population that is not well off and are doing nothing about the current situation. Its not because they are afraid of being called “lefties, hooligans, shinners etc.” If that’s all they have to worry about, they have little to be afraid of. All that has happened so far was the occupy movement, which was just jumping on a bandwagon.
Why is it people aren’t protesting? Its the Irish way. We turn a blind eye. We think, ‘ah, sure it’ll be grand’. We wait for others to lead, then follow – we have no strong leaders (just look at the Dail). If we had strong leaders, they have probably emigrated by now. All it would take is a few people to start a protest and others would follow, but that hasn’t and wont happen. We are meek people who don’t take chances, we just follow the line.
To blame it on public servants is baloney too. Another ‘us vs them’ scenario. Why not also blame those on the dole, those in council houses, immigrants, pensioners? Anyone but ourselves.
John,
The real division of Irish people is capitalism – it destroyed our society since the celtic tiger. I’m a centrist but the media have been hostile to any protests. Just look at the Irish Independent who branded the protestors who egged Gilmore’s car as “unemployed republicans”
Joe,
Capitalism hasn’t destroyed our society since the celtic tiger. The bank debts were socialised, in a true capitalist society that would NEVER happen. Socialism has destroyed Ireland along with many other factors – short sighted politicians, bad bankers… you know the rest. It was the left leaning Fianna Fail in power at that time too.
I can’t find where The Irish independent branded the protesters “unemployed republicans”. I don’t condone using such tactics as throwing eggs to protest though. It was always going to cause bad press against the protesters. And it was organsised by eirigi so the republican tag isn’t far off. But is that what stops other from protesting? People are afraid to be branded unemployed republicans?
A peaceful protest with large crowds will get sympathy towards the protesters.
Wow, a news source publishing news about Iceland???
I didn’t think that was allowed. Aren’t we all supposed to believe that Iceland as a whole is burning in hell at this very minute?
I don’t think we’re meant to believe that at all but we’re also not also to believe that Iceland is heaven on earth either.
Iceland has been making great strides getting past their crisis and returning to growth. With a population only a fraction the size of Irelands. Which flies in the face of the argument that Irelands population is too small to sustain independence.
Declare Independence. Don’t let them do that to you. Raise your flag!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXVlQTC2yB0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
For Christ Sake. Iceland are making us look pathetic. Whilst we are being economically raped by our economic captures and enjoying it because of our Stockholm syndrome, the Icelandic people are kicking the EU right in the balls. When are we going to grow some and just pull the pin. The sky won’t fall. Iceland proves that.
Great People , those icelanders, a role model for irish People, perhaps, naa wishful thinking
Don’t Pay stealth taxes Ireland – it’s NOT your debt.
have your say