Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-28
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

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.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:34+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-28