Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a great pleasure to introduce my first Bill to the House with the support of my colleague, Deputy Lahart, who did so much in the last Dáil on the matter and had the support of the entire Fianna Fáil Party. The programme for Government includes a commitment to legislate to address the problems caused by illegally driven scrambler bikes. The problem is well understood by the Government, from the top, the head of Government, An Taoiseach, who has seen it at first hand in my constituency, right down to every community impacted by the issue.

The programme for Government signalled a change in direction, a signal to those in the permanent government, the Civil Service, that is not okay to leave things as they are. We have heard too many stories of people who have been injured, including a young boy will never have the same smile after it was smashed by a scrambler bike, an old lady who was prevented from calling an ambulance until the perpetrators cleared the scene, a young boy with special needs who suffered two broken legs, and the many people who have died.

Illegally driven scrambler bikes make many parks and other green spaces too dangerous for people to enjoy and destroy facilities relied on by sports clubs. Their use involves antisocial behaviour, the movement of illegal drugs and organised crime. It presents a real challenge to order in our communities and undermines the confidence in An Garda Síochána.

The Bill does three things. Section 2 amends the definition of a public place in the principal road traffic legislation. This contrasts with previous Bills which amended a certain section. Section 5 makes it an offence to ride a scrambler bike dangerously in a public place and makes confiscation the penalty for this offence. Section 6 directs the Minister to make regulations to provide for the seizure of scrambler bikes in the curtilage of the dwelling. Property confiscated under the Act can also be disposed of rather than being available for collection.

It is imperative for the Government to approach the issue with a whole-of-government response, involving different Departments. Legislation such as this needs to be supported by a package of non-legislative measures by other Departments. This is the first step in the Government delivering on its commitments.

See this speech in context