Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013

Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013

2013 CHAPTER 10

Commentary on Sections

Part 3: Marine Protection

Section 36: Fixed monetary penalties: procedure

This section specifies certain minimum requirements that must be included in any fixed monetary penalty regime.  In particular, when imposing the penalty, the Department must issue a notice of intent to the person setting out the information specified in subsection (3) of this section and provide the person with the opportunity to discharge liability by payment of a prescribed sum, which will be lower or equal to the amount of the penalty.  If the sum is not paid, a person may make representations and objections to the Department.  Having considered those representations, the Department will come to a decision on whether to impose a fixed monetary penalty (“final notice”) setting out the information specified in subsection (5).  A person on whom a final notice is served has a right of appeal.

Subsection (6) provides that an order allowing the Department to impose fixed monetary penalties must provide for the grounds for appeal set out in that subsection.