2026-01-28

I want to begin by paying tribute to Grace Lynch. Grace was a strikingly beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her who was taken far too soon. My heart goes out to her family, particularly her mother, who is determined to ensure action follows this awful tragedy. Nothing we in this House can say can lessen the loss, but we owe it to Grace and to communities across our city and country to ensure that this tragedy leads to meaningful and effective action. The antisocial and dangerous use of scrambler and quad bikes is nothing new. It has been, for many years, a scourge on our communities. It is not an isolated problem; it is a daily occurrence in Dublin South-Central and in many urban areas around our country. It is an issue that has been raised in this House on numerous occasions by Members on all sides. Before the 2020 general election, we in Fianna Fáil made a clear commitment that gardaí would be provided with powers to seize scrambler bikes when they are used dangerously or in an antisocial manner. We followed through on that commitment and enacted the Road Traffic Act 2023 to strengthen Garda powers in this area. All legislation needs to be looked at, reviewed, amended and parts commenced. We need to go further in the context of the legislation relating to this matter. The Minister for justice has been clear in recent comments that scramblers and quad bikes are not permitted on public roads unless they meet the relevant legal requirements. It is necessary to state that position. However, the reality on the ground is that clarity is not translating into consistent enforcement. Parts of the regulatory framework outlined in the legislation have not yet been fully commenced or operationalised in a way that gives gardaí the confidence and the certainty they need. What communities see, what Garda representatives acknowledge, and what is happening on the ground is that there is uncertainty around the circumstances in which scramblers can be compulsorily seized, how ownership is established where bikes are unregistered and uninsured,and what happens to seized vehicles where no lawful ownership can be ultimately demonstrated. There is also public confusion about whether confiscated bikes are ultimately returned, retained or destroyed. That lack of clarity seriously undermines the deterrent effect the legislation in intended to have. Obviously, the tragic events in Finglas have once again shown that this behaviour is not merely antisocial; it is potentially and dangerously lethal. While gardaí are doing their best within the framework currently available to them, it is clear that additional clarity, commencement and operational support are required. Is the Government satisfied that all relevant provisions relating to the use, seizure and disposal of scramblers and quad bikes have been fully commenced? Will further legislative provisions, amendments, regulations and guidance be implemented? I request that the Government consider a 30-day amnesty and a possible refund scheme for those who own scrambler or quad bikes and surrender them and that gardaí be given enhanced powers after any such amnesty.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is correct in saying that the parents of Grace Lynch, Siobhan and Martin, have shown extraordinary courage and bravery in the context of the devastating loss of their beautiful daughter. I have spoken with them, as has the wider family. I have spoken with them. We are very clear in respect of this matter. I have discussed it with the Ministers for justice and Transport. There will be a meeting this afternoon with the relevant officials and the Ministers to discuss the commencement of the remaining piece of the 2023 Act. I said yesterday that this should have been done; it was not. If people do not have insurance or a driving licence, they are not meant to be on the road. That requires detection. It is far simpler if scramblers are taken off the public roads and not allowed on them. The law allows for that. I consulted with the Attorney General yesterday. Despite the different discussions that are under way, the Attorney General is very clear. The 2023 Act allows for the banning of scramblers and quad bikes from public roads. I intend, with my colleagues, to proceed with that. It is going to happen. The Minister for justice has met with the Garda Commissioner. He accepts that there needs to be an intensification of activity by the Garda in specific areas where this type of antisocial behaviour is a scourge, and particularly where scramblers are used on an ongoing basis. If any other areas are surfaced in terms of issues around confiscation or ownership, we will deal with those, preferably by means of existing legislation. If new legislation is required, however, we will bring it forward. We believe that the enforcement of existing legislation is a prerequisite and that the commencement of all aspects of existing legislation is something that should happen forthwith. As the Deputy stated, the seizure powers were commenced. Since then, about 300 scramblers and quad bikes were seized by gardaí over the past two years. Historically, scramblers were racing bikes intended to be used on courses. That is it. I have a very simplistic view about it. I know matters can get complex in terms of types of vehicles and all of that, but it makes it far easier for enforcement if it is a very straightforward law and a ban. They are not on public roads; that is it. That is what will happen and that is what we intend to do. We will keep a very close watch in order to ensure that we plug any other gaps that may emerge subsequently.

I welcome the Taoiseach's response and his clarity in relation to these bikes not being allowed on public roads. Even after this awful tragedy occurred, we still had reports to our office of scramblers out on roads in parts of Dublin South-Central. People are really keen to see action on this. Will the Taoiseach provide a timeframe as to when subsequent regulations will be enacted? Are a possible amnesty and a refund scheme things the Government might consider? If there were an amnesty, would the Government consider enhanced powers for gardaí after it has taken place? These bikes are a scourge, and we do not want to see any further tragedies resulting from their use. This is something we have been shouting about in these Houses for a long time. We have acted on it, but not enough.

I have convened a meeting for later today with the Ministers. I will have better clarity around the timeline after that, but it will not be a long timeline. The Attorney General will be at that meeting as well. This is something I want done very quickly. The parents who have lost their beautiful daughter in the most appalling of circumstances do not even have to ask for this. We want to make sure that something like this, in so far is as possible, never happens again. We can never say that with any great certainty and clarity because of the behaviour of people. On an amnesty, we are hearing feedback about some of these scramblers. I do not want to brand everyone, but we do not want to be rewarding people who do not need to be rewarded. I will ask the relevant Ministers to examine what the Deputy is saying. We did that with knives in the past and it yielded results. We will ask the Ministers to examine that fully.