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

I thank Sinn Féin for this motion. It is quite comprehensive and deals with all the substantial issues in this situation. I was thinking about what to say today and the irresponsible use of these vehicles, which are very dangerous, is a huge issue in the area I come from in Clondalkin. There are parallels between this and the epidemic of stolen cars in the mid-1990s. I am not going to go in-depth into how that was tackled but there is a wider societal issue when it comes to why young people need to do these activities. The law needs to change because there is ambiguity about the laws around off-road vehicles, but we could change the law tomorrow and there would still be a societal issue. Why do people engage in these activities, particularly in working-class communities? They are a huge danger to themselves, as these vehicles are not meant to go on tarmacked roads. They are off-road vehicles. If someone comes off one of those bikes, and these lads do not wear helmets, they will die or kill someone else. There have been deaths and people have suffered serious, life-changing injuries over the past few years. We definitely need clarity on the law because, as far as I can see, there is ambiguity and the law on these vehicles needs to change.

Some people who use these vehicles use them very irresponsibly, although a huge number of people use them very responsibly. I am aware of two motocross clubs in Dublin, one in Mulhuddart and one in Dublin city. They engage with young people and give them responsibility around vehicles such as quad bikes or motorbikes. That shows them how dangerous these vehicles can be, but also how enjoyable they can be because once they are used in a controlled manner, they can be a very enjoyable hobby. The vast majority of people who use these vehicles use them in a safe and controlled environment. That is important.

The current legislation is unfit for an urban environment. This issue has been raised many times, not only here but in council chambers or at joint policing committees, JPCs, and working-class communities want to see some sort of action. That action should be a change of law but it should also involve giving young people alternative things to do. Local authorities are trying to address these issues. It is not a panacea by any means but we should give young people an alternative in order that they can go from anti-social behaviour, although I hate using the term, to pro-social behaviour. We can give them the adrenaline rush young people sometimes want in a safe and controlled environment where they can show responsibility, not only for themselves but for their peers as well. It is vitally important that we engage with young people and look for alternatives to these vehicles. As I said, they can bring immense joy but they can also bring immense misery if they are used irresponsibly.

The law needs to change as the police are confined to certain things that cannot be done in public parks but we should go back to the societal issue as to why these vehicles are used in a way that can be extremely negative and irresponsible for the communities where most of these people live. We need to change the law and look for an alternative. As well as the clubs in Dublin, there are many clubs across the State that use motocross vehicles in very responsible manner. We must look for alternatives and work with local communities and young people. We will not get through to everybody. There is an element of people who use them for other purposes, such as dealing drugs and so forth, but we have to look for alternatives. If we can look for alternatives, we can in some way address the issue.

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