Cabinet plans to ban scrambler bikes from Irish roads after the death of Grace Lynch 

The move comes in the aftermath of the death of 16-year-old Dublin teenager Grace Lynch after being hit by a scrambler last month

Grace Lynch's father Martin, left, and other family members carrying her remains from the Church of St Oliver Plunkett, Rivermount, Dublin, after her funeral Mass. The 16-year-old died after being hit by a scrambler motorbike in Finglas. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A plan to ban scrambler bikes from Irish roads will be brought to Cabinet today, Wednesday.

The crackdown comes in the aftermath of the death of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch, aged 16, following a collision involving a scrambler last month.

Keith Lee, aged 18, of Park View Drive in Poppintree Park, Dublin, appeared before Blanchardstown District Court last Tuesday accused of dangerous driving causing Ms Lynch’s death.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien’s memo will enable the immediate drafting of regulations under section 35A of the Road Traffic Act 1994 to give legal clarity and explicitly prohibit the use of all scramblers in any public place, including roads.

Members of Dublin Fire Brigade provided a guard of honour during the funeral of 16-year-old Grace Lynch who died after being struck by a scrambler bike in Finglas. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

Under the Road Traffic Act 2023, when a garda “reasonably believes” a vehicle is, has been, or could be driven dangerously, they can stop the driver and require them to “exit, dismount, or otherwise relinquish charge and control of the vehicle”.

Bail and counselling notes 

Elsewhere at Cabinet, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan will seek approval for amendments to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 at committee stage in the Dáil.

It will add new offences where bail can be refused, and will introduce a presumption of non-disclosure for counselling notes.

This means the default position will be that counselling notes are not to be disclosed, except for the “very small” number of cases where disclosure is warranted in the interest of justice. 

As such, counselling records would only released where the judge decides that they contain material relevant to legal proceedings.

The same protection regime will be applied to other records containing sensitive personal data, including medical records, child protection records, and other such documents.

Disregard of historical convictions proposed 

Mr O’Callaghan will also seek government approval for a legislative scheme for the disregard of certain historical convictions relating to consensual same-sex activity. 

My Future Fund update

Social protection minister Dara Calleary will update Cabinet on the auto-enrolment pension scheme, My Future Fund, which launched on January 1.

Mr Calleary will tell ministers that around 104,000 employers have automatically enrolled in the system to date.

• Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor