Mary strongly supports the legislation passed this week giving Gardai additional powers to help tackle the anti-social use of Scrambler bikes, quad bikes and other similar off road vehicles in places such as public parks.

Scrambler bikes will now be prohibited on public or private land, except in cases where there is permission from the landowner. This proposed new offence will cover places such as parks, green areas, waste ground and beaches. The use of vehicles on private lands, such as farms, will not be affected.

An Garda Síochána will for the first time, also be enabled, on foot of a warrant, to enter a private premises and remove a vehicle suspected of having been used contrary to the new offence.

These new measures, together with other avenues being developed by the Interdepartmental Group set up by Minister James Browne.