Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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432. To ask the Minister for Finance the legislative provisions governing the proper display and visibility of motorcycle number plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39495/26]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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433. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider enhanced penalties or specific enforcement measures to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39496/26]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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457. To ask the Minister for Finance the current regulations governing the size, positioning and visibility of motorcycle registration plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39499/26]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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458. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider a review of enforcement or regulatory standards in respect of motorcycle number plate display in light of concerns regarding illegal or obscured plates and associated driver behaviour; if his Department has assessed compliance levels with these regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39500/26]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 432, 433, 457 and 458 together.

In relation to questions 39495 and 39496 I will reply to the matters related to the legislative provisions and penalties governing vehicle registration plates. Matters relating to enforcement by An Garda Síochána are for reply by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

The Finance Act 1992 (as amended) provides for the registration of vehicles, the charging of vehicle registration tax and the assignment of a unique identification mark to each vehicle upon registration.

The Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations, 1992 (as amended), set out the detailed requirements for the display and format of vehicle registration plates, including for motorcycle plates. Under these regulations, the vehicle registration plate must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle and be clearly visible at all times. Vehicles with only one wheel at the front, such as motorcycles, are only required to display the registration plate at the rear. Registration plates must be displayed in a vertical or nearly vertical position, so that every letter or figure of the identification mark is easily distinguishable. Nothing should be placed in such a position on the vehicle as to make it difficult to read or distinguish the identification mark.

It is an offence, under Section 139 of the Finance Act 1992, to display a false registration number, the wrong registration number on a vehicle, the registration plate in an incorrect format or an obscured registration plate. A person who is found guilty of this offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine of €5,000.

In line with the Road Traffic Act 2010 (Part 3) (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2024, a member of An Garda Síochána is fully empowered to issue a fixed charge (FCN) of €60 to a driver who fails to comply with number plate requirements. The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration may be in a position to provide the Deputy with details of Garda activity in this area.

The issue of non-compliance with the legislation related to vehicle registration plates is of cross-Departmental policy relevance, having regard to the role that correct vehicle identification has in the areas of road safety, law enforcement, and vehicle taxation. Work is being undertaken on an interdepartmental basis during 2026 to examine the potential for strengthened measures and to develop and recommend suitable options to improve compliance with registration plate requirements in the State.

Any changes to the current framework would have to be informed by the relevant State enforcement and regulatory bodies impacted.