Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

375. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position regarding commencement of the new Garda powers contained in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38628/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on the 23 June 2023. This is a large piece of legislation which covers a multitude of topics. Under the Programme for Government, it was agreed that the anti-social use of scramblers would require additional legislative measures to ensure the safety of both the user and the wider public.

Among many issues, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 aims to adequately tackle the current anti-social use of scramblers and quads via three measures:

• Under Section 5(k), dangerous driving has become an offence everywhere, previously it only applied to public places;
• Section 5(p) grants new Garda powers of seizure
• Under Section 11(b) there will be a new power to provide in regulations for the prohibition or restriction of the uses of classes of vehicles in particular places.