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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Scrambler and motorbike disorder

Summary

Deputy Ennis described scramblers and motorbikes taking over Dublin city centre and said Garda resources were inadequate to deal with them. The Taoiseach said laws have been passed, extra gardaí recruited and more resources allocated, but agreed the reported Garda response was not adequate.

On Saturday night I witnessed a pack of eight scramblers and motorbikes taking over Dublin city centre. I went to Store Street police station because I saw the lack of Garda presence. This was going on for hours. The garda on the desk told me they had not got the resources to deal with this on a Saturday night in Dublin city centre, the capital of our country. One of those scramblers narrowly missed crashing into me. I do not know how he did not. He lost control after going up on a wheely. I thought that would be the end of it but they continued for hours after that, moving from street to street from O'Connell Street, Parnell Street, Portland Row, Sean McDermott Street and the North Strand road. I raised this with the Taoiseach two weeks ago, after a kid with additional needs, Jayden Deans, was knocked down at the Five Lamps, a stone's throw from O'Connell Street. When are we going to see emergency and immediate action on this? When are we going to give the gardaí the resources and protections they need to address this? How many people are going to be seriously injured or killed like poor Grace?

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The Taoiseach to respond.

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We need action, and we need action now.

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Many Deputies in the House have raised this issue long before two weeks ago. Deputy McAuliffe and others have been active on this front. Laws have been passed, additional gardaí have been recruited and enormous resources are being allocated to An Garda Síochána.

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It is not enough.

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I do not think it is a good enough response.

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It does not happen in his community.

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Will the Deputy let me answer the question? I will make a point. It is not a good enough response. If someone goes to a Garda station and is told they are not going anything about it because they do not have resources, I do not think that is an adequate response. It just should not be thrown out-----

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Are they nearly crashing into him in his private car? I do not think so.

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik.

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I am simply saying that it is not an adequate response.

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