The Government has approved Grace's Law, the new regulations that will make the use of scrambler bikes illegal in all public places.
Speaking at Government Buildings this afternoon, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said the new regulations come into effect this Friday and will be signed into law by the minister this afternoon.
These measures honour of the memory of Grace Lynch who was killed after she was hit by a scrambler bike in Finglas in January.
"I know this has been a scourge in communities and we want to see an end to that. We are going to support the gardaí to make sure they have what they need. The clarity these regulations gives is that in public places, roads or parks scramblers are banned from Friday end of story," he said.
The minister said scramblers may still be used on private land with a landowner's consent or in a designated sports facilities but they must be transported to and from those locations.
He said there will be increased fines for owners but owners may still get the bikes back.
Minister O'Brien said he has been in contact with Grace's family and listened to them over the new regulations.
He said the Government accepted that they had to go further than the existing regulations from 2023, even if that led to the seizure of hundreds of bikes.
The minister said he was surprised by last week's conviction of a Garda who was in pursuit of two masked men on scramblers for dangerous driving but that it wouldn't take from the effectiveness of the new regulations.
"I discussed it with the family before cabinet. I discussed it with Minister [Jim] O'Callaghan yesterday. As a citizen, I was somewhat taken aback by that. Minister O'Callaghan, I and Minister [Sean] Canney will deal with that matter"
Minister of State in the Department of Transport Sean Canney said that Grace's Law brings clarity for gardaí.
"The gardaí have now got a clear definition of what a scrambler is, and secondly they will know that if it is in a public place they can confiscate it.
"They don’t need to try and figure out whether it’s driving dangerously or not. It's clarity, take it off the road, take it from public areas. The gardaí need that clarity and they have got it today," he said.
Minister O’Brien also appealed to communities and families to ensure their sons or daughters do not buy scramblers or use them in public places and to abide by the law.
The minister said he has been in contact with Grace's family and listened to them over the new regulations. He said the Government accepts responsibility they had to go further than the existing regulations from 2023 even if they had led to the seizure of hundreds of bikes.
He added he was surprised by the conviction of a garda who was in pursuit of two masked men on scramblers for dangerous driving.
He said it will not take from the effectiveness of the new regulations.
Last week, Minister O'Brien said the new legislation has the support of Grace's parents, Siobhán and Martin.
"I've remained in contact with Grace's family, with her mom and her dad, and I've kept them abreast of progress," he said.
"They've been incredibly strong through this whole awful situation."
Work on the new regulations has been under way over the last few weeks, in the wake of Grace's death.
Vital piece of legislation, says GRA
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has described Grace's Law as a vital piece of legislation and a significant step to helping to make public roads and parks safer for people.
The association which represents over 11,000 rank and file gardaí has also welcomed the commissioner’s decision to seek legislative change to enable gardaí to break traffic laws in pursuit of scrambler drivers and criminals.
It also said that in the wake of the conviction of a garda for dangerous driving after pursuing two masked men on scramblers, other gardaí say they are afraid to engage "in any type of pursuit as it may result in disciplinary proceedings and even criminal prosecution".
The are also seeking a full rollout of pursuit driver training and a separate driver's licence for gardaí while on duty.
Read more: Legislation needed to enable gardaí to break lights, says Kelly
