Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

People Before Profit supports the Bill and I commend Deputy Ellis on his work on the issue. It is unfortunate the Government is not supporting it because it is a good amendment.

The majority of motocross participants are very responsible. There is a minority who are irresponsible and that is played out in housing estates where I live where young people mainly are using them recklessly without helmets, going though parks and estates. That has led to deaths and serious injuries not only for those taking part but for also members of the public and other car users. Obviously it is a nuisance to the public.

Some young people are looking for the adrenaline rush of being chased by the Garda and going 70 km/h or 80 km/h along a road. How can we turn that into a more positive thing? I make some comparisons. We had, and still have, in many housing estates the problem of roaming horses. There was legislative change in 1996, accompanied by a task force approach to trying to educate people about horses and so forth. As a result of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regulation it has largely worked. Regulation alone will not work. I welcome the task force approach to the issue. At local meetings attended by Deputy Bríd Smith, me and others, this issue constantly comes up.

I wish to consider practical solutions and not just regulations. There are many motocross tracks in Dublin and other parts of the country, more than most people might think. Fingal County Council gave Mulhuddart Motocross Club 15 acres of land. Club members say that there had been a problem with people using vehicles recklessly. However, since the advent of the motocross club, incidents have reduced by 60% to 70%. It is not a panacea by any means, but certainly it is an issue that I hope the task force will take on board. If people have a controlled safe environment to use these motocross bikes, not only are they using them professionally, they find out how they work mechanically which helps with health and safety.

There is another track in East Wall and a very good one in County Offaly. I know some of the members there. Most people who use these vehicles use them extremely responsibly and professionally. It is a sport after all. One of the oldest institutions in Ireland is the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland, which is 112 years old. It has been advocating on behalf of motorcycling throughout Ireland.

I make a point about parents buying vehicles for their children. I have come across parents buying small mopeds for children as young as seven or eight. I do not know what the parents are thinking because this is a lethal vehicle that can go up to 70 km/h or 80 km/h. Any human being who comes off at that speed, regardless of whether they are wearing a helmet, will sustain serious injury. There are many nuances to this. I know some people who are irresponsible with motor vehicles like this. It is possible to bring them in and say that this is irresponsible and that they are going to kill themselves or kill somebody else. If they want to use that approach, it should be accompanied by having a track or an environment where it is safe for them. That will go some way towards addressing the bigger issue.

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