AI Summary of 36. Fixed payment notices
Under the outlined provisions, inspectors may issue a fixed payment notice to individuals suspected of committing a relevant offence, which includes designated violations under specific Acts. The notice informs the individual of the alleged offence, allows for a 42-day period to make a prescribed payment up to €2,000, and clarifies that prosecution will not occur during this timeframe if payment is made.
Payment made pursuant to a fixed payment notice cannot be recovered, and a defence can be claimed in proceedings if it is shown that payment was made in accordance with the notice. All funds received from fixed payment notices will be directed to the Exchequer as determined by the Minister. Relevant offences include those specified in the Protection of Employment Act 1977, the Payment of Wages Act 1991, the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994.
36. Fixed payment notices
Amendments (requiring commencement) by s. 7 of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 (No. 16), published 16 December 2025.
(1) Where an inspector has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has committed a relevant offence, the inspector may give to the person a notice in writing (in this section referred to as a "fixed payment notice") in the prescribed form stating that -
(a) the person is alleged to have committed that offence,
(b) the person may during the period of 42 days beginning on the date of the notice make to the Commission at the address specified in the notice a payment of such amount as may be prescribed, being an amount of not more than €2,000, accompanied by the notice,
(c) the person is not obliged to make the payment specified in the notice, and
(d) a prosecution of the person to whom the notice is given in respect of the alleged offence will not be instituted during the period of 42 days beginning on the date of the notice and, if the payment specified in the notice is made during that period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will be instituted.
(2) Where a fixed payment notice is given under subsection (1) -
(a) the person to whom it applies may, during the period of 42 days beginning on the date of the notice, make to the Commission at the address specified in the notice the payment specified in the notice accompanied by the notice,