Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the Chairman. I was speaking in the Chamber earlier. I thank the Minister for coming to today's meeting. I read his witness statement and will put a few points to him. It is very important the legislation captures existing forms of e-transport but it is equally important that it future-proofs things as well. As I understand it, the Road Traffic Acts date back to the 1960s. That body of legislation has been overhauled over the years, but who would have foreseen two-wheeled hoverboards or e-scooters? I remember seeing an e-scooter for the first time two years ago in Dublin and now they are everywhere. It is very important we future-proof this legislation.

On e-bikes, the Minister will be glad to hear I have been cycling to the Dáil lately. I have subscribed to the Dublinbikes scheme, which I find fantastic for nipping around the city and getting to and from meetings. It is of concern that half of the Dublinbikes fleet is e-bikes, yet the battery system has failed. Batteries have gone back overseas to be checked - I am not sure where - but Dublinbikes tells me and many other users of its service that it could be several more months before all of these come back. This has disenfranchised many people and set them back. I ask the Department to intervene in that regard.

On e-scooters, I met with representatives of Ford Ireland and am delighted to hear that Ford, which has more than a century of prestigious history in building quality cars, is now entering the e-scooter market, although with a very different type of e-scooter. Ford will offer e-scooters where there is a subscription service, similar to the e-bikes that operate in towns and cities. You arrive, tap in, take the e-scooter and return it. It is a fantastic idea. Ford is looking to engage with our committee and with the Department.

I will propose something to the Minister. More than a decade ago, the Government decided that County Clare would have Ireland's first e-town. Miltown Malbay was equipped with broadband, Internet and information technology, IT, facilities that are now outdated, obviously. I want the Minister to embrace the whole idea of an e-town once more and I invite him and his Department to look at Ennis as a way of trialling e-scooters. Not everything should go to Ireland's cities. Ennis is the largest non-city town in Munster and would be a great place to trial e-scooters.

On automated vehicles, a fabulous project has been going on in recent years in Shannon, where Jaguar Land Rover has a facility testing automated vehicles. This has been industry-led in Ireland. Once again, it is important the legislation is future-proofed.

I will come in on the other points in a moment, if that is okay. I ask the Minister to respond initially and I will then ask another question.