Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their contributions, particularly those who have supported the motion. I am really disappointed by the response of the Government. I am not talking about the remarks of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, or the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, which, to be honest, I take with a pinch of salt. The amendment tabled by the Minister, which I will go through, speaks volumes regarding where this Government is at. It states, "An Garda Síochána pursue appropriate policing strategies with due regard to the need to ensure that responses to the misuse of vehicles do not lead to increased and exacerbated public safety risks". It is obvious that the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, who is present, has not listened to a single word uttered by any of the contributors to the motion. There is no strategy or training in place and the Garda does not have the resources to tackle this issue. How do I know that is the case? I know because that is what they have told us. That is what Deputies have been saying all night. That is the situation is on the ground.

The amendment claims that "the existing legislation requires the safe use of vehicles as well as compliance with conditions for driver licensing, motor taxation and insurance, and the relevant legislative provisions have already been subject of close examination by Government departments". If that is the case, why have we heard Deputies speaking on the motion tell story after story of parks and open spaces being completely destroyed and how people, including older people, are afraid to walk down the street and parents are afraid to let their children out onto green spaces? I only have to look out my front door to know what the situation is on the ground. There is a green space in my area where there can be up to ten quads and scramblers driving up and down, especially in the summer, but also at all other times of the year. That is how I know that the strategy is not working.

The amendment further states that "Gardaí already have significant enforcement powers in relation to dangerous misuse of vehicles". If that is the case, why were two Fianna Fáil Deputies saying on social media this week that they will bring in legislation to change the situation around quads and scramblers?

Why did Deputy McAuliffe say in the Chamber today that he is bringing forward a Bill to change the legislation? This is in the Minister's amendment so why was he saying that, if this is okay and we do not need extra legislation? This flies in the face of the experience of every community I represent.

I wish to refer to one comment, as it is important that we hear from ordinary, local people. The person concerned lives in the estate next to me and we were tortured over the summer, and particularly during lockdown, with quad bikes and motorbikes in our community. When the woman rang the Garda station, after days of torture, the garda said he would send a car up when one became available, but said there was not much more the Garda could do. That was said directly by the garda. The call was in the middle of the day. The person was working from home because she was told to do so, but she could not work. She had to go somewhere else to work because of the noise.

Finally, the Minister of State said that the Garda successes in the seizure of vehicles underline the need to support An Garda Síochána to respond to local situations and to provide appropriate resources and technical support. He then went on to speak about the response to drug dealing and intelligence-led approaches to counter the activities of drug gangs. That is out of touch with the reality of what is happening with quad bikes and scramblers. The reason the gangs use these vehicles for drug dealing is that the Garda has a policy not to follow or chase them, not to deal with them and not to seize the vehicles. As Deputy Ward said earlier, that is why younger people are now being sucked into these gangs.

We put forward a very detailed motion. It does not tie the Government to a legislative process, but it certainly charts a way forward. I am very disappointed with the Government's response. The message will go from the House to every community in urban areas living with this daily nightmare that the Government has no intention of dealing seriously with this scourge in those communities.

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