15^th July 2003

GREENS WELCOME COURT REPORT BY EXPERT GROUP

The Green Party has welcomed the Report of the expert group into the jurisdiction of the courts.

However the Party has expressed concern that the Report appears not to have taken on the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission that fines should be adjusted according to people's ability to pay and that corporations should pay higher fines than individuals.

Green Party Justice Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD, said, "Media reports indicate that the report has failed to address the issue of people's ability to pay. We feel that fines should reflect the financial circumstances of the individual or the company concerned. This would be a fairer system."

ENDS/