Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1598. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in light of the growing threat posed by individuals engaging in antisocial and dangerous behaviour using stolen mopeds and electric motorbikes, he is actively considering legislative or operational reforms to empower Gardaí with the tools they need to intervene effectively. [20107/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat antisocial and dangerous use of mopeds and electric motorbikes including under the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the Criminal Law Act 1997.

In June 2023, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law. The Act included provisions that aim to tackle the antisocial use of mopeds and electric bikes through measures such as granting An Garda Síochána new powers of seizure.

Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.

Gardaí also respond to reports of anti-social behaviour and conduct operations on a continuous basis targeting people engaged in anti-social activities using stolen mopeds and electric motorbikes in public places. These initiatives are supported by campaigns across various media and social media platforms to highlight the dangers connected with the use of these vehicles.

In dealing with this dangerous behaviour, An Garda Síochána gathers intelligence at a local level and targets these areas. Such operations focus on the illegal use of mopeds and electric bikes and involve all members as assigned to operational duties.

The Garda National Roads Policing Bureau has procured a number of mobile dynamometers for the roadside enforcement of regulations pertaining to e-bikes, e-mopeds and e-scooters. The equipment and training was identified as being necessary to address An Garda Síochána’s enforcement capability with regard to recent legislation introduced with respect to e-bikes, e-mopeds and e-scooters. The device allows a trained member to measure, at the roadside, the maximum design speed and continuous power output of such vehicles to determine whether such attributes are in compliance with the legislative restrictions on same.

Earlier this month, and as part of Operation Meacan, Gardaí from the Dublin Metropolitan Region South Division conducted a Day of Action targeting electric motorbikes suspected of being used in criminal activity.

The aim of Operation Meacan is to tackle the use of electric motorbikes which are being used for criminal activity including drug dealing, money laundering, transporting firearms, Drug Related Intimidation (DRI) and other serious offences.

During the Day of Action, in an operation led by members attached to the Tallaght Fraud Unit and Tallaght Crime Unit, search warrants were executed at a number of locations in Dublin 10 and Dublin 24.

These searches resulted in the seizure of 39 electric bikes, 15 helmets and 9 batteries, with an estimated value of over €130,000. One bank account, with an operational balance of over €99,000, was frozen under money laundering legislation.