There could be a legal clampdown on rickshaws early in the New Year – even though the government opposes it.

The Dáil last night voted to give transport regulators the power to set new traffic laws for the human-powered vehicles.

Fine Gael had tried to block opposition parties from including rickshaws in a new government bill.

But Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin last night joined forces to pass an amendment which could take legal effect next month.