Total ban on scramblers will take weeks, minister says

A total ban on scramblers in public places will be in place within weeks, the Transport Minister has pledged, following the death of a Dublin teenager.

Darragh O’Brien secured Cabinet approval to prepare for an outright ban on Wednesday but said work on the legal definition of a scrambler will take a “matter of weeks”.

It comes after 16-year-old Grace Lynch died after an incident involving a scrambler bike in Finglas on January 25.

There is already existing legislation banning the use of most scramblers in public places – and the dangerous driving of the vehicles anywhere.

However, Mr O’Brien is now proposing new regulations for a total ban on scrambler use in public spaces and to strengthen the enforcement powers of gardai.

It is intended to close any gaps where scrambler use may have been legal outside of off-road settings.

Part of the strengthened powers will be around the “disposal” of seized scramblers.

The ban will take several weeks and ministers have proposed to increase the daily fees for seized vehicles in the interim.

Mr O’Brien is working with junior ministers Sean Canney and Jerry Buttimer on the proposals.

Earlier, the Tanaiste said he “doesn’t have a satisfactory answer” as to why it has taken so long to implement earlier regulations banning the use of scrambler motorbikes.

Speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings on Wednesday morning, he said: “Scramblers are now being used to intimidate communities.

“They’re obviously posing a very significant danger in terms of road safety, and they have no place on public roads or in public spaces.”

The legislation underpinning the regulations was passed in 2023, but it was only after the death of the teenager that politicians moved to introduce it.

Asked why it had taken so long, Mr Harris said it was “not an acceptable situation” the regulations had not been commenced.

He said: “This has gone on for quite a period of time. The Oireachtas passed a law, and that law did put a number of measures in place and those measures have had a positive impact in terms of giving the Gardai powers.

“There was provision in relation to banning them outright from public spaces, and it seems that that was never commenced.

“That’s not an acceptable situation, it predates the times of Minister O’Brien and Minister Canney, but our aim is to move forward in relation to this as quickly as possible.”

Also speaking on Wednesday morning, the Taoiseach said the new regulations would be named after Grace.

Micheal Martin said: “Grace’s mother said to me, she wanted it to be known as Grace’s Law, and that’s what it will be.”

On the destruction of the vehicles, Mr Harris said: “This can’t be a question of taking the scrambler off someone for a few hours and somebody going back and asking kindly ‘can I have it back?’.

“And if you use a scrambler on a public road or public space that should be seized and that should be destroyed by An Garda Siochana, that is the intention.”

Mr O’Brien told RTE Radio on Wednesday that he will be bringing further draft regulations in relation to e-bikes and e-scooters in the coming weeks.

He said this will be particularly focused on helmets, lighting, and hi-visibility clothing.